Electric Concorde (right) beating Isleofhopendreams© Photo Healy Racing
Jim Culloty and David Mullins successfully teamed up with Lake Takapuna at Leopardstown on Monday, and they were back in the winners’ enclosure as Electric Concorde landed the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier).
The 11/1 chance was up with the pace throughout, and kept on gamely under pressure on the run-in to prevail by a head. Isleofhopendreams well-backed on track from 7/1 into 5/1 joint favourite, was patiently ridden to challenge approaching the last.
However he lost a little momentum at the final flight and couldn’t quite make up the deficit in the closing stages. Barnahash Rose was four and a half lengths away in third, with Woodford Island completing the places in fourth.
Culloty said, “He was an unlucky loser the last day at Galway when he was squeezed for room and made a bad mistake at the second last.
“I felt he was well handicapped but he was a novice in against handicappers. My only worry was his lack of experience and hence we ran him the way we did.
“He’s improved for the step up to three miles, and will probably go for the Final at Cheltenham.”
