Solarize digs deep at Leicester as Road To Home gets off the mark over fences at Galway

Solarize dug deep to win the feature Paul & Margo Barley Mow Cosgrove Farewell Handicap at Leicester on Tuesday for Charlie Johnston and Callum Shepherd. The 11/4 shot beat the favourite Ruby Wedding by a length and three-quarters in the Class 3 contest over 1m3f179y, with Kings Code third.

Only five went to post after Be The Standard was withdrawn, but there was no shortage of drama, and the market principals had contrasting afternoons.

Solarize responds to pressure

This was far from a cruise for the four-year-old Solarize, who despite being the second favourite was the first of the field to come off the bridle, and Shepherd was pushing along with just over three furlongs to run. For a moment it looked as though he might be struggling, but the colt responded generously. He made headway to challenge over two furlongs out, was driven into the lead under two furlongs from home and stayed on stoutly on the good to firm ground.

Andrew Balding’s Ruby Wedding was sent off the 9/4 favourite and can count herself unlucky. The three-year-old filly was short of room just as Alfie Redman was looking to challenge, and by the time she found daylight, the winner had flown. She stayed on well, but too late to land a blow. She is one to keep on side next time, and any prize money counts for Balding with the trainers’ title so finely poised.

Kings Code, who led early under Pat Dobbs, kept on for third, with David O’Meara’s Percys Daydream fourth.

There was no joy for Billy Loughnane though on Parlando. Ian Williams’ seven-year-old was the 3/1 second favourite but could only finish last of the five. It was a frustrating result for the jockeys’ title leader, who had six rides at Leicester after his Wolverhampton treble on Monday.

Road To Home gets off the mark over fences at Galway

Over in Ireland, Road To Home won the BOYLE Sports Shop At Galway Racecourse Beginners Chase for Willie Mullins and Brian Hayes. The seven-year-old was sent off at 9/2 and beat Philip Fenton’s 7/2 shot Karl Des Tourelles into second, with Henry de Bromhead’s 9/4 joint-favourite Captain Ryan Matt back in third.

Interestingly, Road To Home was not the Closutton first string on the market. Stablemate Chart Topper, ridden by Danny Mullins, shared favouritism at 9/4 but could only finish fifth. The ground had eased to yielding to soft after the opener, and Road To Home handled the conditions well over 2m2f54y on his first start of the new season.

He arrived with the highest official rating in the field, having placed in four of his five starts last season, and he looks a useful recruit to the novice chasing ranks for the champion trainer. He can build on this as the winter goes on.