Leader Lee completes Navan double as Make The Tide runs out ready winner
Billy Lee added to a productive afternoon at Navan when he partnered Make The Tide to victory in the second division of the 0-60 mile handicap, completing a double for himself and trainer Willie McCreery.
Ridden with restraint early, Make The Tide was produced for a decisive run in the straight and quickened to lead and hold off her rivals, prevailing by around two lengths from Moyassr. The success marked Lee’s 70th winner of the season and extended his advantage at the head of the Irish flat jockeys’ championship over his nearest rivals.
Home-bred success for McCreery
The winning filly is a home-bred for Dave and Sarah Hyland of Oghill Stud. McCreery confirmed she carries a strong pedigree and is related to high-class performers within the same family, while also highlighting her physique and likely preferences for future targets.
McCreery indicated the yard will monitor the handicapper’s assessment before plotting a similar assignment next time and suggested the mare is likely to handle a bit of easier ground, pointing towards comparable handicaps as the most immediate options.
Race and seasonal context
- Venue: Navan
- Race: 0-60 mile handicap, second division
- Winner: Make The Tide (trained by Willie McCreery, ridden by Billy Lee)
- Runner-up: Moyassr (finished two lengths behind)
The victory continued a productive period for the McCreery yard, which has been extracting improvement from a number of its juveniles and handicappers. For Lee, the Navan double underlines a consistent campaign that has seen him accumulate winners across a range of tracks and race types, consolidating his position in the season-long standings.
Planning ahead
Connections will now take stock of Make The Tide’s revised rating and consider similar-mile handicaps where the filly can be competitive. Given her breeding and the trainer’s comments regarding ground preference, an outing on ground with a touch of ease appears likely to be on the agenda, although exact targets will depend on how the handicapper adjusts her mark.
As the Irish flat season progresses toward the summer festivals, performances such as this serve as useful form pointers for owners and trainers plotting entries into the numerous mid-summer handicaps and feature days across Ireland and Britain.
Lee’s double at Navan was one of several notable results on a busy afternoon of Irish racing, as jockeys and trainers press to secure positions in the championship tables and prepare horses for the next strand of the campaign.
