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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Loughran partners Flawless Escape to land opener

Thu 28th Dec 2017, 12:48

Flawless Escape (blue/light green) jumping the final hurdle before the straightFlawless Escape (blue/light green) jumping the final hurdle before the straight
© Photo Healy Racing

Flawless Escape justified good market support to take the opening Attheraces.com Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding, who won a bumper at Roscommon on heavy ground and beat all bar Burrows Saint when switched to hurdles at Punchestown last month, was available at 4/1 this morning and went off an 11/4 chance.

The 15-runner field was well bunched approaching the straight and, with the final hurdle omitted due to the low lying sun, it developed into something of a sprint over the final quarter mile.

Roger Loughran ’s mount found that but extra under pressure inside the final furlong to beat Jetez by a length, with uneasy 6/4 favourite Francin just a short-head away in third.

Elliott said, “He’s a fine big galloping horse and is a chaser for next year.”

Loughran said, "Tim (O'Driscoll, owner) and myself go back a long way. He is a happy man and he's a bit emotional there at the moment. I haven't had a thrill like that in a long time to ride a winner for someone like that.

“He's a big honest chaser. They hacked in front and I sat third or fourth the whole way. He jumped and he galloped and he won a shade cosy in the end. Gordon and the team did a great job with him and I'm very thankful.

“He made a novicey mistake first time over hurdles at Punchestown and it was the only one we were really racing at. I left him to his own devices and he just stood into it. I felt that day I would have took Ruby's horse off the bridle rather than the other way around. He had a tough race that day but it stood to him today.

“When I sat down on him to go on he galloped straight to the line whereas he was just a little bit babyish the last day.”

(GC & AM)

About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.