Blackjack Hills one for Smith and Colgan A drop in trip to a mile on heavy ground at Gowran Park, with blinkers fitted for the first time, worked the oracle for Blackjack Hills in Division 2 of the Racing Club Membership Handicap at Gowran Park. The Ribchester gelding was available at 25/1 this morning, but was returned at 10s after good support before the opening show at the track. Plenty of horses held chances in the final furlong, however, Blackjack Hills rallied to winning effect under Robbie Colgan. Things got tight in the closing stages, and a stewards enquiry was called, but Blackjack Hills was confirmed the winner by a length and a-half from Rock Etoile (6/1). Mythical Rock was a neck further away at 6/1. Matthew Smith said: “He’s been expected to run well a few days and didn’t, so we put blinkers on him the other day and he seemed to work well in them. “I think he’ll get a bit further. I wasn’t sure about going back to a mile, but it worked out anyway. "We weren’t sure about the ground, but he seemed to handle it fine.” Smith also saddled a winner at Dundalk on Friday evening through Cala Bonita (4/1). Additional reporting by Alan Magee
