Hindu Kush:won the second Listed race of his career at Leopardstown
PICTURE: Caroline NorrisHindu Kush staves off Alandi to take Saval Beg
Report: Leopardstown, Thursday
Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes (Listed Race) 1m6f
FRONT-RUNNER Hindu Kush fought of strong challenges from Alandi and Sublimity to land Dandy Nicholls yet another valuable Irish pot.
Sent off the 5-1 second-favourite, theformer Ballydoyle inmate set a generous pace from several lengths clear of the field but came under pressure approaching the straight as Sublimity cruised up to join stablemate Donegal and Alandi.
Two furlongs out, nothing travelled sweeter than the Seamus Heffernan-ridden Sublimity, fresh from his wind operation, but just as the 2007 Champion Hurdle winner reached the long-time leader he pulled out more and strode clear under Chris Hayes.
Shortly after the Hennessy family's nine-year-old came to the limit of his stamina lost second to Alandi by a short head.
All three got very close in the closing stages and a stewards' enquiry was called but the placings remained unaltered and the winning jockey said: "He got a freebie in front. We sprinted from four furlongs out and he showed a nice turn of foot."
The win was Hindu Kush's first since taking the Listed Nolan & Brophy Auctioneers Silver Stakes at the Curragh in identical fashion last June and he may now return to that course for the At The Races Curragh Cup on June 27.
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