Left to right The King Of Brega, Brand Ambassador (centre, winner, Barry Geraghty) and Theatre Bird © Photo Healy Racing
After two years off the track Brand Ambassador (7/2 favourite) is making up for lost time now and he gained his second win in a month when capturing the Follow Gowran Park On Facebook Handicap Hurdle under Barry Geraghty.
The Heron Island gelding sandwiched a Listowel Festival third placing between a win at Navan in early September and this victory today. He looks a nice progressive six-year-old too judged on the way he disposed of Theatre Bird and The King Of Brega (well-backed) having come through from off the pace.
"Barry rode him in the past and we were both very worried that the ground might be too soft for him," commented winning trainer Gordon Elliott.
"We might put him away now and come back for a handicap hurdle in the spring.
"He wouldn't want it any softer than that. Barry said he was struggling the whole way but he won anyway and worked it out grand."
K.C. Sexton, rider of Casimir Road trained by Stephen Ryan, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a respiratory noise, lost his action and pulled up.
P. Townend, rider of Curragh Golan trained by Garrett James Power, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount did not handle the ground(yielding).
(DM & EM)
