Bridge Native wins for the 5th time in 2020 Likeable mare Bridge Native (5/1 favourite) put another success on the board this afternoon in the Ladbrokes Handicap Chase at Down Royal. Conor Orr did the steering for Dot Love, and the market-leader had something to concern her going to two out with Benefit Run putting in his bid. However that rival gave signs of what was to come jumping left here. He soon wasn’t going forward the way jockey Simon Torrens would have liked, and ran out at the final fence. The very willing Real Bandits Again Syndicate-owned Bridge Native was as usual giving it her all at that stage, and she went on to account for Email Rose by eight lengths. Assistant trainer Ciaran Murphy said: “She seems to have improved with age. She was giving us those sort of vibes at home and she had a cracking run on the flat a week ago. “She is not going to be covered next year, she is going to be coming back into training. “Conor (Orr) said once she hit the better ground at the top of the hill she just flew. “She is probably best over fences, she is more than adequate over hurdles and she’ll win on the flat. She’s an exciting prospect for a small yard. “We’ll speak to the owners but it is possible she will have a break now and come back for Christmas. Maybe there will be a bit of better ground at Leopardstown at Christmas if there was something for her. If not, she will be campaigned next spring. “There’s plenty in her. She has been good to us and we don’t want to do the wrong thing by her now. “She’ll have a little break now no matter what — two, three or four weeks.” The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Diamond Turf (FR), trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be lame behind post race. (MG & EM)
