Returning Foley hands credit to Rightplacerightime for comeback success

Barry John Foley, back in Ireland after an 18-month stint in the US, overcame adversity to ride his first winner since his return when the Kevin O'Donnell-trained Rightplacerightime fought his way to a neck victory at Naas on Monday.

Rightplacerightime suffered persistent interference from the runner-up Capilano Bridge in the closing stages of the opening 2m maiden hurdle and found himself tightened against the rails on the run from the bypassed final hurdle to the line.

Ricky Doyle, who rode Capilano Bridge, picked up a four-day ban for careless riding.

Reflecting on the race, Foley said on Tuesday: “It was very tight and we had little or no room but the horse deserves all the credit. He put his head down and kept battling. Had I tried to take a pull we would have been beaten.

Watch the Naas replay here

"I’m back from the US for Christmas and the new year and I'm riding out for Michael Winters and others and helping Ciaran Fennessy with pre-training. I’m hoping to pick up some rides over the busy Christmas period.”

Foley, who rode seven winners in the US this year and has 37 wins to his credit as a professional, added: “My biggest win came in a $75,000 race at Saratoga on a filly called Market Alley trained by Doug Fout for whom I work full time.

"I also won two hurdle races on a horse named Family Tree, a son of Galileo, who used to be trained by Aidan O’Brien and won for him as a two-year-old. Jump racing in the US runs from March to November and I'll be heading back there at the end of March."

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com