Feminine touch works again on Geological

Red Avenger lost any chance of completing a four-timer when very slowly away in the featured TEC Electric Handicap but trainer Damian English was still smiling afterwards as he landed the spoils with his other runner Geological

Red Avenger got upset in the stalls, and reared up as the gates opened losing considerable ground. Pat Smullen’s mount eventually finished seventh as 20/1 chance Geological made all.

The five-year-old gelding provided Michelle Hamilton with her first winner when also landing a feature handicap over six furlongs last month, and this time Ana O’Brien took over in the saddle.

O’Brien flagged at declaration time that she may put up 2lb overweight but got down to the advertised weight of 8st3lb and was seen to good effect from the front.

The outsider was strongly challenged inside the final furlong but kept on well to beat McGuigan by three quarters of a length. Reckless Lad finished a head further away in third.

English said, “I’ve had him over a year and he’s threatened to win good races, and for some reason he goes well for the women. He cost only 800 guineas and now he’s won two 14,000 (euro) handicaps. He’s a great advertisement for the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sales.

“Ana said he travels so well and gets the mile well. A lot of lads were telling me he doesn’t get a mile but he does get a mile. There is two Fast Track Qualifiers over six (furlongs) and a mile in March, and he’ll run in one or both of them.

“I’m gutted for Red Avenger but he blew it at the start. I don’t know what had him so upset. He was very fresh and well in himself, and maybe I had him too fresh.

“Hopefully the horse is alright, and he’ll come back here for the Fast Track Qualifier as well. He’s still a really good horse and you just have to put a line through that.”