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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Lee moves ahead in title race after brace on Beleaguerment

Fri 21st Oct 2022, 18:56

Beleaguerment holds off Company KeepingBeleaguerment holds off Company Keeping
© Photo Healy Racing

Billy Lee grabbed a quick double at Dundalk tonight, and moved one ahead in the jockey's title race, when teaming up with James McAuley again to score on Beleaguerment in the second division of the six furlong handicap.

The pair had landed the first leg of the race with Tai Sing Yeh and struck again as the 11/2 shot stuck his head out close home for a neck success. Adam's Angel set a strong pace but was claimed inside the final furlong by Beleaguerment who had responded well to Lee's urgings in the straight.

The Kodiac gelding ran around a touch under pressure but found more close home to hold the late finish of Company Keeping Title rival Colin Keane was back in third on Silver Nemo

McAuley said: "He can be ignorant enough at home but he had gone quiet which isn't like him. Much and all as I like quiet horses around the place, he needs to be at you and running off the end of the gallops.

"We ran him over five (in Bellewstown) specifically to sharpen him up. His whole demeanour has changed in the last couple of weeks.

"He ran himself into that mark when he was quiet at home, he was running okay without going overboard. I think the run over five definitely sharpened him up.

"I'd say Billy will be happy with a break when this is over in two weeks' time! He has earned them (tonight's winners), they weren't steering jobs. Anything he is available for, he can ride. The same with Colin (Keane), he was just chinned in the first (on Eglish .

"They are the best jockeys around and it makes sense to use them. Billy was available for those two and I'm delighted that he rode them."

Lee now sits on 86 winners.

There was a significant sting in the tail though as Lee picked up a six-day whip ban for the ride. He is set to miss the final two days of the Flat season.

(Quotes by Michael Graham)

1st
14/1
Tote €15.00 €3.90
2nd
0.75L
7/2
€1.60
3rd
1.75L
15/8Fav
€1.40
4th
0.5L
10/1
About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.