Mic lands gamble in bumper Mic Drop landed a gamble in the concluding bumper at Clonmel today when staying on stoutly in the closing stages for Rob James. The David O'Brien-trained gelding had been backed from 18/1 this morning and went to post a 7/2 shot in the two-miler. He tracked the leaders in the early stages before pulling his way to the front leaving the back straight. The Soldier Of Fortune gelding was strongly pressed a the two furlong pole by even-money shot Relieved Of Duties but saw off his challenge over a furlong from home. He galloped on strongly in the closing stages to score by two-and-a-half lengths as Bold Passion stayed on to claim the runner-up spot. The winner had won a point-to-point back in March and was a close third in a Tipperary bumper in May. He had finished a moderate fourth when last seen in action at Wexford later that month. "He won his point to point but was immature and backward and Rob said he has strengthened up well. He is a big horse who is a chaser in the making,” said O'Brien. "He'll go jumping now, he needs a trip and won his point to point on absolutely bottomless ground." "Peter (Tarrant, owner/breeder) is out of the country but we said we'd have one more run in a bumper while there was no Willie Mullins horse in it. “This was lovely as, lord have mercy on Peter's father, he was great to me and my father in his time, so it is great to see those colours back in the winner's enclosure. "Peter was patient with this horse and had an option to sell but said he'd hold on to him to have some fun. “His mother won five races for us but was an inconsistent broodmare although has a two-year-old half-brother by Order Of St George to come." (Quotes by Tom Weekes)
