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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Townend times it well on Bridgequarter

Wed 11th Sep 2013, 17:47

Bridgequarter Girl leads at the last from The Black RussianBridgequarter Girl leads at the last from The Black Russian
© Photo Healy Racing

Bridgequarter Girl came with a well-timed run, under Paul Townend, to claim the Galway City Publicans Handicap Hurdle at Ballybrit. The Black Russian made a bold bid from the front as he sought a hat-trick of wins but he had to give way in the closing stages to the John Kiely-trained mare.

Townend buried his mount in mid-division in the early stages before making ground up going to the second last.

The 8/1 winner was asked to chase the front-runner turning for home and jumped into the lead at the last.

She stayed on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-three-quarters verdict as The Black Russian held on for the runner-up spot from Spot The Pro in the two-mile event.

Green Thirty Two was sent off the 6/1 favourite (from 9/2) having attracted support into as short as 11/4 before racing but faded two out and could only finish eleventh.

Bridgequarter Girl had run well to finish third on her handicap debut at Cork last month having taken a Tramore maiden hurdle a week previously.

“I was a little bit disappointed with her at Cork when she didn't get the luck of the race but she had previously won at Tramore on a track that wouldn't have suited her,” said Kiely.

“She's a big galloping mare and she liked it around here. Being by Presenting she won't be around over the winter.”

(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.