Davids Charm and Ambrose McCurtin© Photo Healy Racing
There was money about earlier for Davids Charm and he scored convincingly for John Joe Walsh and Ambrose McCurtin in the Harvest Festival 10th - 16th September Handicap Hurdle (division two) at Listowel.
The 9/1 chance, on handicap debut with cheek-pieces deployed for the first-time, careered away up the run-in to defeat Tough But Honest by six and a half lengths.
"He loves the ground - he didn't run on that ground since he had his debut run at Killarney. He's after coming on but ran on the Flat the last and went to run out and also went to run out the first day he ran at Killarney," revealed Walsh.
"He'll hopefully improve from there and he'll keep going for the summer."
The Stewards enquired into the apparent improvement in form of Davids Charm, trained by John J. Walsh, placed, first compared with its recent form.
Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned who stated that the horse has been running poorly on soft ground over the winter and today's better ground suited.
He also stated that the horse tends to run around and the application of cheekpieces today seemed to help the horse concentrate.
He further added that his yard is coming into form having been under a cloud for the last eight months.
Evidence was also heard from Mr.Andrew Shaw, Turf Club National Hunt Handicapper who stated that today's win represented significant improvement on recent form.
He noted that the horse was subject to a running and riding enquiry on his first start in Killarney last year.
Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the explanations offered.
(TW & EM)
