Frankie John gives King a double at Gowran The Denis Hogan-trained Frankie John (7/4) was a game winner of the Like A Butterfly Novice Chase for jockey Daniel King. Plenty of talented novice chasers had reputations on the line here, and it turned out to be a thriller. It was an evenly-run race, and it became a shootout over the last couple of fences, with all riders and their mounts not willing to give an inch, but it was Frankie John who stuck his head down when the line came to win the contest by three-quarters of a length, with the Willie Mullins-trained, JP McManus-owned Vicar Street in behind. Speaking after the race, trainer Denis Hogan said: "He is a lovely horse and was always going to be a chaser. He hasn't done any schooling since Galway, but I thought he didn't need to. Dan gave him a lovely ride and let him warm into the race. "The Drinmore was always in my head for him, but he had to go close or win today to do that. "We have the horse by default as he returned to us after initially being sold, but worse things than that have happened. "He didn't have the best campaign over hurdles as the Martin Pipe Hurdle at Cheltenham had been his aim, but he missed it due to a dirty scope. He then finished fourth in a Grade 1 at Aintree and got a 10lb penalty. "It is exciting to have him for this season, and I think 2m4f is spot on for him." (Quotes from Tom Weekes)
