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Third win of the year for Cautious Approach

Cautious Approach (yellow with black sleeves) comes home half a length in front of FarneseCautious Approach (yellow with black sleeves) comes home half a length in front of Farnese
© Photo Healy Racing

Cautious Approach (7/1) has had a productive year, and gained her third victory of 2019 when taking division two of the Apprentice Handicap by half a length from the 7/2 favourite Farnese

Richard O’Brien’s filly, a maiden winner here in March and successful at Killarney in August, reversed form from a fortnight ago with the runner-up on slightly better weight terms and in first-time cheekpieces. Fashaar made a bold bid from the front but was reeled in by the closers inside the final furlong and finished fifth, with Bionic Tonic ( 16/1) coming through for third three quarters of a length behind the principals.

“I spoke to Ronan Whelan beforehand and in fairness he gave me very good instructions, and an insight into how to ride her, said the winning rider Gavin Ryan

“I did exactly as he said, he said the cheekpieces would help her today and maybe just put a bit of a spark back into her.

“She's held her form well all season so we knew coming here she'd have a chance and as I said the cheekpieces then just put that extra bit of spark in her.

“She pegged back the early pacemaker very well and hit the line well so you'd be delighted with her.

Anthony McCann was quite confident in his horse and how he'd run. So with him jumping out and set a real good honest gallop you can't let him get too far away.

“That was always in the back of my mind, to just make sure that we have him in a catchable distance away from us."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.