18+ | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure

Gibney feels ground to blame for Intense Raffles no-show

Tom GibneyTom Gibney
© Healy Racing Photos

Tom Gibney feels the ground conditions at Chepstow last week didn't suit Intense Raffles, with the grey disappointingly pulling up in the Welsh National.

The winner of the Irish National in 2024, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned eight-year-old has failed to make a significant impact in three starts this season and is now likely to wait for heavy ground before being turned out again.

"He's fine after the Welsh National. It was just the better ground and they fly. It's just not for him," Gibney reflected.

"He backs away when they go really fast like that. It doesn't suit him.

"Heavy ground suits him because everything is happening slow and he can take it all in.

"I don't think I'll be running him on anything other than heavy again."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.