Dead heat in Irish St Leger

Racing: Jukebox Jury and Duncan provided a fantastic finish to the Irish Field St Leger, crossing the line together to dead …

Duncan ridden by Eddie Ahern (right) and Jukebox Jury ridden by Johnny Murtagh cross the line together for a dead heat in the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire.
Duncan ridden by Eddie Ahern (right) and Jukebox Jury ridden by Johnny Murtagh cross the line together for a dead heat in the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

Racing: Jukebox Jury and Duncan provided a fantastic finish to the Irish Field St Leger, crossing the line together to dead heat in the Classic. Duncan (5-1) was providing John Gosden with a famous big-race double as his Masked Marvel had earlier won the English equivalent at Doncaster.

The Mark Johnston-trained Jukebox Jury (4-1) set a strong gallop up front throughout, despite racing into a fierce headwind. Johnny Murtagh began to wind up the pace three furlongs out and it was all too much for the odds-on favourite Fame And Glory who was very disappointing and quickly dropped away.

Duncan looked all set to claim the honours as he cruised up under Eddie Ahern but in typical fashion for a Johnston-trained horse, Jukebox Jury just would not be denied and the pair raced stride for stride before passing the post together.

Over in Doncaster, Gosden and jockey William Buick combined to win the English St Leger for the second year running when Masked Marvel outstayed his rivals to win the final Classic of the English flat racing season by three lengths at Doncaster.

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The 15-2 chance kicked away with two furlongs remaining of the one-mile, six-furlong stamina test, having sat off a strong early pace. Brown Panther (15-2), owned by Manchester United striker Michael Owen, stayed on to finish second ahead of 2-1 favourite Sea Moon.

Gosden and Buick won the race with Arctic Cosmos last year. Gosden also saddled Shantou to victory in 1996 and Lucarno in 2007.