Warp Factor and Tom Madden© Photo Healy Racing
On a card where we had only one winning favourite, Warp Factor won the last of eight races at Navan at odds of 14/1.
Tom Madden donned the familiar Thistle Bloodstock silks on The Carbon Unit gelding, and the four-year-old gained a second career win.
Pat Shanahan's charge got to the front over a furlong out for a three and a half length success over Bigger And Better
Well-backed favourite Hasselnott (7s into 5s) finished third, whilst a gamble on McGuigan (16/1 into 11/2) went astray as he came home in ninth position.
"We have been trying him over all trips, grounds, hurdles, Flat, everything. He has plenty of ability but loves the soft ground," explained Shanahan.
"We will probably find another race for him now and he's in the sales at Newmarket. The ground is the key to him as all his best form is on soft ground."
The Stewards requested a report from John Patrick Shanahan, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Warp Factor, winner, as compared with its recent form.
The trainer reported that his last run at Chester was over a distance in excess of his best and previously at Newbury he disappointed over a shorter trip.
He referred to the gelding as having different ideas about running and having raced without blinkers in recent runs, they were reapplied today to sharpen him over the shorter distance of one mile and also to help the rider as this race did not allow for the carrying or use of whips.
Having considered the report, the Stewards noted the explanation offered.
(AM & EM)
