Martin doubles up with effortless h'cap win

Trainer Tony Martin completed a double at Down Royal today as his Artful Artist caused a 16/1 surprise when bolting in on his handicap debut in the concluding Nokia Handicap.

The winner, having just his second start for Martin, was in truth in a completely different league to his opponents. Ridden by Fran Berry, he raced wide and towards the rear but quickened well from his lowly 52 rating to draw clear in the closing stages for a rather comfortable four and three parts of a length win.

Martin took the opener with 4/6 favourite Shemshal and following Artful Artist's win, jockey Berry stated “they took off very fast from the flag start and then they all stopped crossing the road and came back to me. Tony (Martin) said he would go very well, but he was a bit worried about the trip.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Michael Graham