18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Wouldn't You Agree grabs a big pot in Bellewstown

Sat 8th Jul 2023, 20:57

Wouldn't You Agree holds Set PointWouldn't You Agree holds Set Point
© Photo Healy Racing

First-reserve Wouldn't You Agree made the most of his opportunity to land the featured €45,000 handicap hurdle over an extended two miles in Bellewstown.

The 20/1 shot disputed two out with Set Point (11/2) and led on the inner before the last. Mark McDonagh drove him home by three-parts of a length from that persistent challenger. Tronador was a length and a-quarter back in third at 6/1.

Trainer Eoin Griffin said: "I was confident enough with the way the weather was going that something would pull out.

"He was in good order at home. I know he was on the back of a bad run over fences, but he doesn't jump fences as well (as hurdles), he's just a bit deliberate at them and he's losing ground at every fence.

"We just made the decision we would stick to the hurdles going forward.

"We put the blinkers on him and applied more positive tactics, and Mark gave him a lovely ride there. He got a nice run up the inner and it was probably the winning of the race.

"We were at the right end of the handicap and took the five off him.

"We will see what the handicapper does, he was up around the 123/124 before and kind of struggled a little bit. When you win that kind of a pot, you will take your penalty."

When asked about Galway, he replied: "Definitely not, he ran there a couple of years back and he's a different horse going left-handed. He just doesn't like going right-handed.

No less than seven of the original field of 16 were ruled out in addition to third-reserve Vultan.

"We will probably go to Killarney."

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.