Reiki Revolution and David Doyle. © Photo Healy Racing
In a dramatic contest where the two market leaders exited early on, Reiki Revolution ran out a surprise 40/1 winner of the concluding Student Raceday On October 28th INH Flat Race at Galway.
Unfortunately the Jim Bolger trained 2/1jf Rural Link appeared to go wrong after a couple of furlongs, veering across the track, taking down fellow market leader Ifallgoeswell in the process.
The eventual winner Reiki Revolution tracked leader Live Aid out in front from the off. Going out on the final circuit, the latter horse hung off the bend, surrendering the lead to the Shark Hanlon trained gelding.
Sitting second at that point, Live Aid soon became unsteerable, hanging violently left and running off the track.
Reiki Revolution was headed by Time In A Bottle over 3f out but as that rival began to weaken entering the straight, jockey David Doyle found a renewed effort from the 40/1 outsider who regained the lead before going on to win by eight lengths.
David Doyle said: “I was up there all the way following John Gleeson and he just hung off the bend going away from the stand.
“After that I was happy enough, he settled away. When the de Bromhead horse came up beside me going down the hill I was happy enough to leave him to roll along and he got a grand breather.
“He was a bit keen early on so I said I'd give him a chance coming down the hill to fill his lungs and in fairness he battled all the way to the line.
“I'm delighted, that's my first ride for Shark.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
