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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Flight Command enjoys Gowran trip

Mon 19th Oct 2020, 16:33

Flight Command leads home Slieve BearnaghFlight Command leads home Slieve Bearnagh
© Photo Healy Racing

Michael O'Callaghan's Flight Command sluiced home to get off the mark at the fifth time of asking in Gowran Park's mile handicap.

Leigh Roche 's mount raced onto the heels of the leaders with three furlongs to travel. The pair then plotted a wide course upon straightening up and hit the front in the final quarter of a mile.

They had everything bar Slieve Bearnagh beaten off in the final furlong but that challenger gave best in the final 150 yards as Flight Command hit the line a length and a half in charge.

The winner scored at 17/2 from the 5/1 runner-up. The gambled-on Plunkett (25/1 - 14/1) was five lengths adrift in third.

Leigh Roche said: “I don't think any horse wants it that deep, he doesn't even want it that deep, but he jumped, travelled, settled well and did things right today.

“It has taken a while for the penny to drop. He wasn't doing a stroke in the last furlong with me, he had his ears pricked, and there is plenty of improvement in him.

“I think seven (furlongs) or a mile will be no problem for him, he's not slow. The last day was just too far for him. He's going the right way now.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
17/2
Tote €11.10 €2.90
2nd
1.5L
5/1
€1.50
3rd
5L
14/1
€4.00
4th
0.5L
12/1
bf
1.5L
4/1Fav
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.