Sounds Like A Plan (grey) asserts under Billy Lee© Photo Healy Racing
Having recently teamed up for a Listed success at the Curragh with Bright Stripes, Andy Oliver and Billy Lee were quickly off the mark at Navan today taking the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden with Sounds Like A Plan
The victorious debutant Night Of Thunder colt looked a really nice type, assuming command in the final furlong to beat Ballydoyle's Tunbridge Wells by three lengths.
It wasn't a totally unexpected success either, looking at the market, as the Francis Campbell owned grey came into a starting price of 5/1, from 13/2 on track and bigger earlier.
"Great!" exclaimed Oliver in the aftermath.
"He's a horse that at home does his work, eats, sleeps and repeats. A very modest horse.
"Credit to Molly who was leading up today, she rides him every day and just loves him. She does a great job.
"He had done everything we asked him, we never pushed him at home but he had come on and we felt he was ready for a run.
"We came here with hope rather than expectation because we had never asked him the big question.
"He did it very well and was very straightforward. He was slightly green just when he was out on his own but, apart from that, very straightforward. Billy was very happy with him, so delighted with the performance.
"There is the Marble Hill next week, but it might be a bit quick to come back. You never know, we will see. He has been engaged in the Railway Stakes, obviously with the possibility of going across the water. We'll talk it out and make a plan."
W.J. Lee, rider of Sounds Like A Plan (GB), trained by A. Oliver, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount ran green and leaned right in the straight.
(MG & EM)
