Tudor City and Bryan Cooper pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Tony Martin recorded his third winner of the week as Tudor City claimed the Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Handicap Hurdle.
The winner of the Galway Hurdle in 2019, the now ten-year-old was returning from a break this afternoon, finishing down the field on his most recent start at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Sent off an 18/1 chance in the colours of John Breslin, the bay gelding raced towards rear under Bryan Cooper and had plenty to do in eighth from two out.
He soon made rapid headway and jumped the last in a share of second, easing past the front-running Family Business on the run-in, going on to score by a length-and-a-half.
Family Business (14/1), who ran a brave race from the front, ultimately had to settle for second under Kieran Callaghan for Donal Coffey, while the 11/4 favourite, Hisnameis Mrdevitt was another four-and-a-half lengths back in third.
"The horses have been in great form and are doing everything right. He's been a bit unfortunate, he probably hasn't won as many races as he should have for the class of animal he is but today was brilliant," said Martin, who was successful with Unanswered on Tuesday and Rebellious Gale on Thursday.
"He's been running since he was a two-year-old and has given us some great days, he won a Galway Hurdle and he's been a real good servant.
"He's been running in top quality handicaps on the Flat and over hurdles and always finishing bang there. It's lovely to get that today.
"We had a few bad years, we had a lot of mishaps and different troubles but touch wood all the horses are running well now again. Fingers crossed it continues.
"The hope is to go back to Galway with him but when they get to that stage of life you just keep tipping away and hope they pay for themselves.
"It's like Golden Spear who is retired now, he won in Leopardstown in March.
"Hopefully this fella will run away over the summer, go to Killarney and end up in Galway. The Galway Hurdle is probably beyond him now and we could look at the consolation hurdle on the Friday.
"His Flat mark is quite good now, he's down to 76 and he is competing well in good handicaps in the mid 80s so that long distance handicap in York could be on the agenda for him."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Stewards fined Peter Fahey, trainer E65 for failing to fit the declared hood to Hisnameis Mrdevitt prior to entering the parade ring.
A.P. Kelly, rider of Pike County trained by Mrs Denise Foster, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount never travelled.
Mrs Denise Foster, trainer of Pike County, reported to the Clerk of Scales that her charge scoped wrong post race.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
