3 minute read

Mitbaahy benefited from an ice-cold Jamie Spencer ride at the Curragh on Saturday, coming from last-to-first to land the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes.

It was a competitive affair with contenders from both sides of the Irish Sea, including the consistent Art Power from the Tim Easterby yard and Richard Hannon's Shouldvebeenaring, who was narrowly denied a win in the Group 2 Clipper Stakes at York.

Art Power and Matilda Picotte set the pace in the early stages and the Charlie Hills-trained Mitbaahy appeared to be a long-shot for the win, tucked away at the back at the field and struggling to find room as the race began to heat up. Jamie Spencer managed to find a gap and flew home, to deny Regional and Ano Syra, back in second and third place.

Jamie Spencer said: "The leaders got a length or two on me and I think he's done well to run them down.

"He's obviously an improving horse and you'd be looking forward to him for Ascot now.

"There is a strong headwind and everything was in his favour today.

"I thought he had a good chance today because he'd been running at Newmarket where it's notoriously hard to come from behind, especially with all the ridges.

"Down into the dip he's got unbalanced twice and has run good races.

"I felt when you're running at a track where the ground meets you, he was always going to find his acceleration again."

Paddy Power reacted to the win by shortening Mitbaahy from 25/1 to 16/1 for both the King Charles III Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Royal Ascot.