Last-to-first Maal another for Marnane
Ridden by rising star Leigh Roche, Maal, a model of consistency this season, had plenty to do turning for home and needed strong handling inside the final furlong to peg back front-runner and chief market rival Blackwitch Woman close home to score by a half-length.
Marnane commented: “He’s been consistent all year and deserved to win another. This is the last claimer for him, so he’ll go back handicapping now. He’s settling better than in the past. We’ll probably run him over a mile and a half in Listowel and we’ll try him again in Dundalk (he ran once there last year) later on.”
