Diesel powers through the mud

Diesel Ten appreciated the soft ground conditions when returning to form with a vengeance in the Tote Super Trifecta Handicap.

The Refuse To Bend gelding won a Limerick maiden also over a mile on similar ground back in April, and the return to testing conditions certainly did the trick here.

Pat Smullen’s mount was kept to the centre of the track, leading well over a furlong out as well-backed 7/4 favourite Snakes And Ladders tried to challenge towards the far rail.

However the Dermot Weld-trained 16/1 chance kept on well in the final 100 yards to score by two and a quarter lengths. Howaya Hurricane (14/1) was a further length back in third, with Granny On Fire (16/1) completing the placings in fourth.

Kris Weld said, “He really loves soft ground and stuck at it well. When he won at Limerick earlier in the year the ground was very bad, and an ease in the ground makes a big difference to him. He’s going to the sales next week so it’s nice to get another win with him before he goes.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson