Custom Cut and Danny Tudhope beat Raymonda and Pat Smullen© Photo Healy Racing
English raider Custom Cut won his third mile race at Leopardstown when putting up a typically likeable display to land the Group 3 Ard Glen Construction Amethyst Stakes.
Danny Tudhope put it up to his five rivals from the front and though the likes of Cougar Mountain did good work from the back in the straight Custom Cut just wasn't for beating.
In the end the now eight-year-old son of Notnowcato toughed it out best to account for Raymonda and the aforementioned Cougar Mountain by half a length and a nose.
Winning trainer and County Cork native David O'Meara said: "He likes it around here. He won the Boomerang a couple of years ago and was second in it last year. Ideally he wants a little more juice in the ground but he's an older horse and he's very sound.
"I thought it was a brilliant ride by Danny today. He made it a good test, and I thought the horse did very well.
"I'm not really sure where he will go next. We are a little bit different with him this year as he normally wins a Group race at the backend of the season and then carries a penalty all year which made the early season options a bit hard. This year he has a bit more scope to pick and choose his races.
"We'll give him a couple of weeks and he'll be out again. He'll go for another Group 3 or go back up to a Group 2.
"He'll more than likely come back here on Irish Champions Weekend for the Boomerang and also later in the year the Joel at Newmarket. They are the two races that he likes."
The Stewards interviewed D. Tudhope, rider of Custom Cut, concerning his use of the whip in this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that the rider was in breach of Regulation 10.3(g), in that he used the whip with his arm above shoulder height and having considered his record, cautioned him concerning his future responsibilities in this regard.
(AM & EM)
