Inverleigh

Inverleigh can be marked up at least a little on the bare form of the performance that he put up in finishing second to Flight Risk in the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes. Ger Lyons' horse travelled well into the home straight, but he didn't have a lot of room on the far side on the run to the 2f marker. Colin Keane quickly spotted that the gap between the leader Rionach and the running-on Gordon Lord Byron was narrowing, so he angled out, but he had to concede a little ground and a little momentum to do so. It is probably stretching it to say that he would have been a serious challenger to Flight Risk, who won well, but he did well to pick up as well as he did, and he was brave in sticking his neck out and grabbing the runner-up spot.

It was still a fine performance by the Excelebration colt. Winner of a listed race at Navan on his debut this term over an extended 5f, he stayed the 7f trip here well, and he did well for a three-year-old to split wizened warriors Flight Risk and Gordon Lord Byron, who have an aggregate age of 19. This was just his sixth run, so he has the potential to progress again. He goes well on easy ground as well, so he is one to keep in mind for the autumn too.

Leopardstown, 13^th June 2019

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