Well backed Gra lands a gamble

Gra Geal Mo Chroi (Love Of My Heart in English) landed a gamble as she took the Budweiser Handicap over a 1m 2f for trainer Austin Leahy with Marc Monaghan in the saddle.

Having opened at 16/1 with Paddy Powers last night, she was backed into 9/1.

She then opened on course this evening at 7/1 (reached 8/1) and was backed into 6/1 co favourite of three at the off.

The daughter of Imperial Ballet had to carry just 8-6 with her rider Marc Monaghan taking a valuable seven pounds off her declared weight of 8-13.

Having dwelt early on she was settled towards the rear before making headway from four furlong out.

She was close up and travelled well entering the straight before she came with her challenge and got on terms a furlong and a half from home.

She then soon led and kept on well from there to fend off the challenge of fellow 6/1 co favourite Lethal Weapon and score by half a length.

The front running Liberty's Gift could offer no more when headed by the winner over a furlong from home and had to settle for third a length and a half back at 10/1 under Fergal Lynch for Paul Flynn.

The other 6/1 co favourite was the Adrian McGuinness trained Pivot Bridge and he finished a further two and a quarter lengths back in fourth under Ronan Whelan.

The winning 7yo mare has been a great servant to connections as she was recording her sixth career victory this evening.

She was having just her third start of 2012 and ran very well last time out to finish fourth of nineteen behind Wreckin Rock in a competitive handicap at the Curragh last month.

Winning trainer Austin Leahy said afterwards: "Soft ground was a major plus for her.

"The young lad (winning rider Marc Monaghan) say she was eager to get to the front so there was no point in disappointing her.

"He rides well and she will go to Sligo next."

Donal Murphy & Thomas Weekes