Breaking Story back in the headlines at long last with convincing success

Saturday: Limerick

When Breaking Story was a 33-1 winner of a competitive Curragh maiden on his juvenile debut for Sheila Lavery in August 2018, he had subsequent Australian Group 2 winner I Am Superman in second and three-time Group 1-winning miler Circus Maximus back in fifth. Little could it have been imagined it would take him 24 runs and almost four years before he would strike again.

Ballingarry trainer Richard O'Brien has care of the son of Dandy Man now and he got him back to winning ways in the feature mile handicap under a fine ride from the front by Nathan Crosse. The 3lb claimer managed to steal a march on his rivals early in the straight and held on to win with possibly more in hand than the winning margin of three-quarters of a length would suggest.

"I rode him last time in a good race at Cork, where he was far too keen. Richard decided to change tactics today and we made the running and steadied it up. He has that six-furlong pace. We were able to kick turning in and he kept galloping the whole way. I think that's the way to ride him," said Crosse.

Unanswered gamble

A string of duck eggs next to his name did not seem inspiring for the Tony Martin-trained Unanswered in the closing 1m3f handicap. but he was backed from 28-1 overnight to 13-2 and benefited from a strong Ben Coen ride to get up close home by a length and a half from Nusra.

Martin, who overcame some traffic difficulties of his own to get to the track on time, said: "He had shown a bit before but had been immature and had a few niggly issues. He came right today. He is what he is and he might mix it for the summer."

It was not the only time Coen showed his strength on the day as this was the final leg of a 449-1 treble.

Kicking it off was the Gavin Cromwell-trained Dha Leath in the second division of the mile handicap as he got up to deny the Ciara Flynn-ridden Plunkett by half a length. The filly had last scored in October for her former trainer Garvan Donnelly, who still has a share in her.

Coen came in for a spare ride on the Sheila Lavery-trained Global Energy in the first of the 1m3f handicaps and made it pay. The Showcasing colt broke his maiden tag with a convincing success, staying on stoutly to score by a length and a half from Prophets Voice.

Coen replaced stable jockey Robbie Colgan and Lavery said: "It's unfortunate for Robbie, who injured his ankle and will be out of action for a few weeks. Hopefully this horse will improve again and he could go back in trip as well. We'll see what the handicapper does. He'd like a bit more juice in the ground."

Results, replays and analysis

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