racing_news/

Wadham Gains Biggest Success & Bolger's Amazing Record Continues
29/04/05

Newmarket handler Lucy Wadham - whose 22-box yard neighbours Godolphin's stable - gained the biggest success of her seven-year training career when United ran out a hugely-impressive 12-length winner of the Grade 1 Colm McEvoy Auctioneers Four-Year-Old Hurdle. Akilak, sent off the 8/13 favourite, could finish only third.

"We came here hopeful but this has just exceeded our wildest dreams," said Wadham. "She has hacked up on both her starts and there were six winners behind her last time at Stratford so she deserved to come here. I'm amazed really but every time we have run her she has done the same thing.

"She's very versatile, she's now won left-handed, right-handed, on a straight track and a galloping track. The ground was really lovely today and they had the course in beautiful condition.

"Richard Venn bought her in Germany and neither of us had seen her and when she arrived she was very dehydrated and I wondered what we had got."

Cashmans quoted United at 25/1 for next year's Champion Hurdle and Wadham added: "I haven't really given much consideration to next season but I suppose you'd have to think about the Champion Hurdle after that."

Akilak's trainer Howard Johnson said: "I think the horses are probably over the top now."

Enda Bolger landed the Blue Square Chase for the La Touche Cup over Punchestown's famous banks course for an amazing eighth successive time when Good Step led home a 1-2 from Shady Lad for the Co Limerick trainer.

J T McNamara was riding his third winner of the race when pushing Good Step, under Nina Carberry, out after the last to beat Shady Lad by half a length.

"The winner is as tough as teak to do that with 12st 3lb," said Bolger. "The soft ground was in his favour and the further he goes the better. I said after he won at Gowran that he'd be our Sporting Index horse for next season and he'll be put away now with that aim.

"I feel sorry for Nina, she was second last year to Spot Thedifference as well. She gave Shady Lad a cracking ride and is going to be something else. The horse's owner is very adventurous and he'll probably go for the Pardubice and she'll ride."

Last year's winner Spot Thedifference had to miss the race and Bolger added: "He pulled a muscle behind and we just ran out of time. He has to stand in his box for two weeks but hopefully he'll be racing for another year or two."

Bolger also won the La Touche Cup with Risk Of Thunder (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002) and Buailtes And Fadas (2003). The race was not run in 2001.

The opening KFM Hunters Chase for the Bishopcourt went to Mac Robin, ridden by Richie Cully.