Meehan takes opening race at Newmarket
Brian Meehan's Absent Pleasure looked anything but the winner in the closing stages of Newmarket's opener on Saturday but somehow managed to get up on the line.
A clutch of runners from the country's top stables were fighting out the European Breeders' Fund Maiden Stakes with Huntdown and 9-4 favourite Kingship Spirit to the fore.
Absent Pleasure (5-1) was located tight on the far rail with jockey Alan Munro hard at work but he responded well to sneak the event by a short head from Huntdown with the jolly the same distance back in third.
"Alan was saying all the right things afterwards - he was very green and is a nice colt," said Meehan.
"He's certainly up to stakes level and has the scope to be smart."
