The Liffey Swim in full flow at Gowran The Liffey Swim (4/1) was tough at the business end as he made a winning debut in the three-year-old colts and geldings maiden at Gowran Park. A mile was the trip on offer and the Kodiac gelding was soon at the head of affairs from 11/10 favourite Wild Sapphire who was also away well from gate one on this his third outing. Colin Keane let his mount stride on, but they were challenged by Wild Sapphire racing into the final quarter of a mile. Try as Wild Sapphire and Chris Hayes did, they couldn't get on terms with the leader who found plenty throughout the final furlong. The winner rolled home by a length from the 'jolly' with easy-to-back Gran Habano two and a-half lengths back in third at 16/1. Michael O’Callaghan said: “He’s a fine, big horse that has taken plenty of time. He’s by Kodiac out of a Shamardal mare, a cross that has worked very well. “We only had the cheekpieces on him today because he’s been a real sleeper at home, very switched off, and it was more so that today wouldn’t be a waste of a run to keep him sharpened up and help Colin along. “Colin said he was always doing enough and when the other horse came to him, it (cheekpieces) just helped him, and he saw it out well. “He saw out the mile well and I’d say he could stay a mile and a quarter.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee
