Mikey Sheehy, Lauren Hickey and James Nash pictured with Your Honor© Photo Healy Racing
Your Honor battled back gamely to take the Sligo Champion Handicap, under Mikey Sheehy for James Nash and owner Albert Conneally.
The son of Lawman was third over a longer trip at Ballinrobe on his most recent start and back to a mile-and-a-quarter this evening, he was sent off a 4/1 chance.
Sent straight to the front by Sheehy, he was pressed and joined by Butterfly Garden from the two furlong pole.
Narrowly headed early in the straight, the bay victor battled back gamely and regained the lead inside the final 100 yards, going on to score by half-a-length.
Butterfly Garden (16/5) had to settle for second under Scott McCullagh for Kevin Prendergast, while Wayne R Walker (15/2) was a length-and-a-half away in third. Yokkell was sent off the 11/4 favourite (from 4s) but faded in the final furlong and eventually finished fourth.
"He needed every drop of rain because he's a horse that wants further. There just wasn't a lot coming up for him, in his own age group especially, so we had to come here and take our chance," Nash said.
"He got a good ride and is a horse who needed to be gelded and has improved for that.
"He stays and will appreciate a mile-and-six or two miles.
"His owner is a Galway man and he looks like a horse that's made for a little race there at the September or October meeting, so that's where we'll be going next."
STEWARDS REPORTS
K.J. Leonard, rider of Auriela (GB) trained by Eoin Joseph McDonagh, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount got a bit keen after three and a half furlongs and clipped a heel.
Siobhan Rutledge, rider of Eagles Perch trained by John C. McConnell, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that her mount got upset in the starting stalls.
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
