Troop marches to easy win Brave Troop streaked clear in the closing stages to run out an easy winner of the Thomastown Handicap at Gowran Park. The Barry Fitzgerald-trained gelding had struck at Navan late last month and went to post 5/2 favourite to repeat the dose under Luke McAteer. Having tracked the leaders in the seven furlong heat the Pride Of Dubai gelding hit the front over a furlong from home and soon settled matters. He could afford to ease up near the line to record a six-length win over James Henry. The winner had scored over ten furlongs last time and Fitzgerald said:- “Coming here I thought seven might be a bit sharp for him but he coped with it well. He’s a fresh horse at the moment and is doing things right. “He’s improving all the time and a cut in the ground is a help. We’ll see what the handicapper does and decide where we go with him then.” (Quotes by Alan Magee)
