Declan Bates© Photo Healy Racing
Top claimer Declan Bates came in for the winning spare ride on the Dessie Hughes trained Great Value in the Follow Naas On Facebook Beginners Chase at Naas today, causing a 25/1 upset in the process.
Bates, substituting for Roger Loughran who suffered a suspected broken collarbone in a heavy fall at Gowran yesterday, was strong on the son of Revoque who battled much better than runner-up Spanish Auriga which again found little once off the bridle.
Afterwards Hughes said “Great Value has had some reasonable runs but didn't handle the heavy ground during the winter. It's not easy to find one of these contests at Naas and he'll go handicapping now. The plan coming here today was to try to get placed and to go to the Doncaster May Sale and he might still go there.”
