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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Ben Siegel guns down his rivals

Mon 19th Jul 2021, 17:55

Ben Siegel, centre, gets up from Razdan, right and Kojin, leftBen Siegel, centre, gets up from Razdan, right and Kojin, left
© Photo Healy Racing

Ben Siegel s power-packed finish enabled him to get up in the final stride of Ballinrobe's Lakes Gift Card Handicap at 10/3.

The 3/1 market leader Kojin came to claim Rugaday approaching the home straight and was ridden by Shane Foley to go for home over a furlong out.

He kept on, however, Ben Siegel stormed after him in the final 100 yards with Razdan (10/3) also unleashing his challenge from further back.

Ben Siegel hit the line first by a head from the flying Razdan (who lost many lengths at the start) and a nose to Kojin.

Winning jockey Chris Hayes said: "He was good. Obviously the drop back in trip on a fast trip like this was a concern but Noel (Meade) was fairly confident. I tried to keep it as simple as I could and swing him out for one solid run up the straight.

"He is probably good for another length maybe, I thought he pulled up when I got there. I wasn't overly hard on him, I thought he was going better for hands and heels than the couple of smacks I gave him.

"He will improve for going back up in trip."

Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel was an American mobster who was a key player in the development of the Las Vegas Strip.

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy

1st
10/3
Tote €2.80 €1.20
2nd
hd
10/3
€2.30
3rd
nose
3/1Fav
€1.10
4th
1.75L
16/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.