Independent Expert (purple) © Photo Healy Racing
The seven-furlong handicap for older horses was won on seasonal reappearance by 17/2 chance Independent Expert
The five-year-old daughter of Gutaifan has now won a race in each of her four campaigns and came from off the pace under Andrew Slattery to thwart Scholarship by half a length.
Winning trainer Andy Slattery said: "She has a new owner and Mick (Walsh) is the farrier here at the racecourse. Mick has a few with us this year and this is our first winner together.
"She was unlucky a few times last year and it was a nice race and setup for her today. She goes on any ground and will get 1m2f on better ground but the testing ground made up the difference (over 7f) today.
"We had her in the Lincoln but she was out of the handicap so we said we'd come here instead. We'll give three weeks now after this first run and hopefully she will get into those better handicaps now."
Quotes from Tom Weekes
