18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Favourite Upstaged again

Sat 22nd Mar 2014, 15:09

Upstager untidy at the lastUpstager untidy at the last
© Photo Healy Racing

Upstager galloped on strongly in the closing stages to land the spoils in the six-year-old and up maiden hurdle at Gowran Park.

For the second race running owner JP McManus had a well fancied favourite but Moonlight Boy (5/4) had to play second fiddle in the two-and-a-half mile contest.

Davy Russell gave Upstager a confident ride as he travelled well to challenge turning for home.

The Pat Colville-trained Oscar gelding hit the front after the second last and was always too strong for the favourite, who came through to give chase.

Upstager was untidy at the last but it didn't stop his momentum as he wen on for a four-and-a-quarter length victory.

The 10/1 winner had been well beaten in his first few starts but showed more at Punchestown last time when running well to finish fifth.

“He's an improving horse and handled the trip and ground well,” said Colville.

“He needed a bit of racing to learn. He'll probably go for a novice handicap next, maybe at Fairyhouse. “He'll go chasing next year – he's bred to do that.”

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.