Doyle doubles up with newcomer in bumper

Wexford trainer Liz Doyle topped and tailed the card for a double at Thurles as Gran Geste made a successful debut in the bumper.

The French-bred gelding landed a bit of a touch as he was available at 16/1 earlier in the day and eventually went off at just 13/2. Boot Camp appeared to have settled the issue when asserting over a furlong but Gran Geste overcame greenness and finished well under Finny Maguire to lead close home.

The winning margin was three quarters of a length, with 13/8 favourite Us And Them another four and three quarter lengths back in third.

One to take out of the race was Crezic who dived left at the start losing considerable ground but was still only beaten a total of eight lengths at the finish in fifth. La Bella Vida initiated the Liz Doyle double when taking the opening mares’ beginners chase at odds of 11/4 under Sean Flanagan.

Ms Doyle said, "There's a funny story behind this horse as I was in Deauville last summer and the three-year-olds can't get into the Sale unless they breeze.

"This horse came up the straight and planted halfway up his breeze when he saw the stands, and everyone started to laugh. But he was actually only broken two weeks and they (previous owners) thought they could put him through but he was broken quickly in ten days.

"He stopped-dead going up the straight and they didn't even show his breeze when he was going through the ring. But he is a Poliglote, the French Champion sire, and he only cost 6,000.

"Today he was a little green, hung and didn't settle but didn't do as much wrong today as the first time he was on a racecourse and I'm delighted. I took a chance buying him but he is Poliglote at the end of the day and has so much to learn still.

"We may have to find owners for him now as he is for sale and I'd obviously like to hold on to him - there aren't many Poliglotes around."

(TW & AM)