Search
Cheltenham 2024
- Main Site
- Cheltenham Home
- Cheltenham Cards
- Cheltenham Results
- Cheltenham Offers
- Cheltenham Odds
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham News
- Prestbury Cup
- Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
- Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
- Desktop Site
Cheltenham 2024
- irishracing.com
- Cheltenham
- News
- Mark too strong for well-touted Dragon
Mark too strong for well-touted Dragon
Machete Mark was a cosy winner from Sacred Dragon
© Photo Healy Racing
Sacred Dragon was the 'buzz' horse for Dundalk tonight, tumbling from double figure odds early this morning into 9/4 for the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Maiden. The first-timer made a perfectly acceptable start to his racing life but the 'form horse,' Machete Mark proved superior by half a length.
The pair left Super Sling four and three parts of a length back in third.
In reality, those that made Machete Mark an 8/11 chance, from offers of evens in the shops, were always on pretty good terms with themselves.
Emmet McNamara was confidence personified on the twice previously raced gelding and he only had to do the bare minimum to get his mount home.
Glenburnie were on the mark at Meydan yesterday with Lily's Angel.
With Ger Lyons on duty in Dubai it was left to his brother Shane to say of Machete Mark: "He deserved to win that on his last run. The second in that (Elleval) has won since.
"We'll give him a break now. He'll come back and be campaigned in the summer from a mile to a mile and a quarter.
"I'm delighted for his owner, David Spratt – he's a real gentleman." (AM & EM)