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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Marito camp eye Cheltenham ticket

Sat 26th Dec 2015, 16:28

Marito strides away in Down RoyalMarito strides away in Down Royal
© Photo Healy Racing

Marito put himself in the frame for a tilt at the Foxhunters when romping home by 15 lengths in the The Silks @downroyal Hunters Steeplechase.

The nine-year-old gelding easily justified 4/6 favouritism when he moved to the front before two out and asserted coming to the last.

Noel McParlan duly steered him home by a wide margin from Current Exchange (11/1). Hix Fix (16/1) was a further five and a half lengths back in third.

Trainer Colin McBratney said: "It took him a long time to recover from Tramore on New Year's Day where it was bottomless.

"He jumped well and Noel said he felt great. It was an easier task he had today. All good, onwards and upwards.

"He could have one more run before Cheltenham (Foxhunters), possibly in the Raymond Smith or a point-to-point."

1st
4/6Fav
Tote €1.90 €1.02
2nd
15L
11/1
€3.10
3rd
5.5L
16/1
€3.40
4th
0.75L
66/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.