Gabbys Cross (Rachael Blackmore) jumping the last© Photo Healy Racing
Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore teamed up for a quick double at Naas as Gabbys Cross recorded a shock 22/1 victory in the valuable BetVictor Novice Handicap Chase.
The seven-year-old gelding was sent off the outsider of the nine-runner field for this €45,000 2m4f event but stepped up on three previous chase outings this term switching to company.
Blackmore gave the son of Frammassone a patient ride to challenge in the straight and, despite being quite low at the last, kept on well on the run-in to score by four lengths.
The 9/4 favourite Ballyshannon Rose led from before halfway but could find no extra in second after the last. Lieutenant Command disputed the lead when meeting the penultimate fence all wrong and unseating Eoin Walsh. King Alex was hampered as Lieutenant Commend exited but kept on to finish a further length-and-a-quarter away in third.
De Bromhead said, "He was a bit disappointing the last day in Fairyhouse so we took the hood off and it might have gone the other extreme - we might have to put it back on. He really tanked with Rachael and rumour has it he jumped a fence on the way to the start, but she settled him.
"I was complaining about his handicap mark beforehand, so it just shows why I'm not a handicapper.
"Before the race I was trying to get him back on track but since he's won, I'm thinking about the 2m5f novice handicap chase at the Punchestown festival for him. Roger (Brookhouse, owner) always likes coming over there so it might be a nice race for him."
De Bromhead and Blackmore also took the opening Grade 3 BetVictor Chase with Captain Guinness
(TW & AM)
