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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Freddie Robdal a poignant winner under Blackmore

Sun 16th Apr 2023, 17:44

Rachael Blackmore Rachael Blackmore
© Photo Healy Racing

Freddie Robdal stayed on well to win the concluding Lismore Handicap Chase in Tramore as the fog reduced visibility. Know The Game led over two out with Freddie Robdal soon improving to challenge him.

They both jumped the last nicely and Know The Game was ridden on the short run-in by Keith Donoghue to win his race, however, Rachael Blackmore drove Freddie Robdal upsides in the final 50 yards and her mount got up by a nose close home on handicap debut.

The six-year-old gelding came in at 15/2 and gave Blackmore a double on the card as she was earlier successful aboard Saint Sam in the Tramore Racecourse Directors Chase.

Runner-up Know The Game was priced at 13/2 and he was six lengths clear of gambled-on Malinas Glory (10/1 - 13/2).

Henry de Bromhead said: "He is owned by friends of Dave Clerkin who passed away in 2018. They've just told me that Dave would have been 35 today. It's a special day for all of them, it's brilliant.

"I told them that the ground was too soft, he had no chance and that we'd get him a bit of experience and there you go, it shows how much I know! We've had tough days with this horse but Paul (Boyle) has kept the syndicate together and it's brilliant."

Paul Boyle, who heads the syndicate, said: "Dave was a good pal of ours and came over to Cheltenham with us every year. We thought it would be a good idea to get a horse after he passed away but none of us have that much money so there is loads of us in the racing club.

"A lot of people got into it, not because they are into racing but because they were good friends of Dave. I texted his mother last night and said it would be great if he won today on Dave's birthday. It's a good story.

"This is our second horse. We had Drogheda Dave, who was obviously named after Dave. He didn't manage to win unfortunately, but Henry found us Freddie Robdal and it's all down to him. We are very lucky."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy

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.