Cottage makes a splash in bumper

Pond Cottage showed the benefit of his debut second at Downpatrick earlier this month when going one better in the bumper under Andy Duff.

The winner was easy-to-back (7/2 out to 6/1) as all the money came for Good Time Harry (7/1-4/1 jt fav), who proved a bitter disappointment trailing in last.

Pond Cottage responded well when asked to challenge Blue Jig Lady (10/1) in the final furlong, getting on top inside the last 100 yards to score by a length and a half. Whynotgiveup (5/1) was seven lengths back in third.

Winning trainer Joanna Morgan said: “He's a nice horse, picked up well and kept going. Andrew said he was always going to win from a furlong a half out. He's only four and is still weak and hasn't fully grown. He's just a shell of a horse, and I might put him away. He's going to be a lovely horse next year.”

Alan Magee