Deuteronomy has a taste for winning now

It took Deuteronomy 29 races to get off the mark and he promptly doubled his total on his next outing in Leopardstown.

There was a delay to this 0-60 handicap as Deuteronomy was declared with a visor, but had blinkers fitted. Trainer Ado McGuinness (who ran Higher Kingdom in the race) supplied and fitted a spare visor to the six-year-old gelding to the relief of Deuteronomy's trainer Robbie Burns who was leading up. Still She Blooms spaced the field out with a clear advantage racing to halfway. Her lead was whittled away with less than three furlongs to race, though.

Deuteronomy stayed on into fourth in the final quarter of a mile as Celtic Druid and Dolce Far Niente soon attempted to reel in Still She Blooms.

Robbie Colgan had kept a bit up his sleeve on Still She Blooms, though, who kicked on again approaching the final furlong. She looked to have the spoils sealed in the final 150 yards, however, there was a late twist as Deuteronomy came home strongly for Nicola Burns to grab the leader close home.

The 6/1 chance prevailed by half a length from the game 14/1 runner-up. Gambled-on Celtic Druid was a further two lengths away at 12/1.

Deuteronomy made the breakthrough in Gowran Park at the start of the month.

Trainer Burns said: “I have to thank Conor O’Brien, a vet down in Cork, who did a job on a soft palate and said I’d have a different horse. It improved him greatly from the start of this year.

“I always thought he was a horse that would go on any ground and is an honest little horse, but something was catching him.

“Nicola’s claim is a big help and she gave him a great ride.”

The Raceday Stewards interviewed R.C. Colgan, rider of Still She Blooms, concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted he was in breach of the whip Regulation and apologised for his actions. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that the rider was in breach of R10.3(g)(frequency) and having considered his record (second offence), they suspended him for five racedays.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee