Saturday, 26 November 2011
Didn`t She Do Well!
Lackamon got favourite-backers off to a winning start at Newcastle as he ran out a determined winner of the Tickety Boo Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
Sue Smith's stayer was strongly backed into 15-8 for this three-mile test and was ridden positively throughout by Henry Oliver.
Recent course winner Tiptoeaway put it up the market leader racing down the back straight and briefly took the lead under James Reveley, but Lackamon's stamina kicked in once they straightened up for home and he produced a couple of prodigious leaps to secure a 12-length triumph.
Oliver said: "The horse is improving with each race and he's tough. He jumped well when he needed to and it was a good performance."
Smith and Oliver found the target for a second time as 14-1 chance Fill The Power landed a warm-looking MGM Precision Ltd 'The French Furze' Novices' Hurdle.
Having been beaten in an Aintree handicap on his latest start, the five-year-old looked to have plenty on his plate against a handful of dangerous southern raiders.
But as his stablemate had done earlier in the day, Fill The Power went out to make every post a winning one and galloped on strongly in the straight to score by seven lengths from South Leinster.
Oliver said: "He's still a big, green baby, but he's a lovely horse for the future. He ran on softer ground last year and didn't seem to handle it all that well, but he's stronger now and he's done it well today."