Fleetfoot opens up a possible path to Ebor Jim Bolger's Fleetfoot justified 2/1 favouritism in the McEnery Cup Handicap at Gowran Park with a stout staying performance. He headed the market on the back of winning a valuable handicap at the Curragh before a fourth place in another good race at the Galway Festival. Declan McDonogh sent him past Saturn over a quarter of a mile from home, but the son of Teofilo looked to have a battle on as Puturhandstogether came at him a furlong down. In the closing stages, Fleetfoot really stuck to his task as he widened the margin and came in by a length and three-quarters from Gambino (7/1) who got up for second from Puturhandstogether. Travelling Head Lad Ger Flynn said: “That was great. Freddy (Tylicki, joint owner) and the boss have patient with him and he’s worth being patient with. “He’s had three good runs back-to-back. It didn’t work out in Galway the last day, he was just slowly away. Declan had him on the inside and he flew home. He hit the line hard in Galway and he’s hit the line hard again there today. “He has an entry in the Ebor. If he gets in it will be up to Freddy and the boss if they’d like to take the opportunity. We’ll see how he comes out of the race. “He’s only maturing now. You can see him walking around the ring, he’s a real specimen — a proper Teofilo horse.” Tylicki added: “He’s always been a good horse and he’s always shown it to us, but just now he’s in his prime and he’s absolutely blooming out there. It’s great to see. “It takes a fair horse to win four times in Ireland, well done to the team at home.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
