Commandant (Rachael Blackmore) leads LLeyton over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Rachael Blackmore got one over championship rival Paul Townend as Commandant justified good support in the Racecourse Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle at Thurles.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding was making his handicap debut and appeared to relish this quick surface after generally disappointing on testing ground.
The Gigginstown-owned gelding was backed on track from 7/1 into 9/2, although Townend appeared to hold all the aces as top-weight Lleyton travelled well to challenge at the home turn.
However he didn’t find as much as expected and Commandant made headway to lead just before the last.
Blackmore’s mount met the flight on a perfect stride and soon settled the issue to beat Lleyton by four lengths, leaving her four behind Townend in the title race. Still Alive was another length back in third.
O'Brien said, "He is a nice big, good looking horse in a low grade race and I'd say the better ground today suited him compared to what he had been running on previously.
"Obviously he is getting older and is maturing and he'll jump a fence for sure. I guess he'll be better when he jumps a fence as he jumps well. He has a tendency to be keen and settled there today. That helped him finish out the race a bit and Rachael gave him a great ride.
"He is in here again on Thursday and will probably come and will then probably jump a fence."
(TW & AM)
