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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Face The Odds picks up the chase under Flanagan

Thu 6th May 2021, 18:33

Face The Odds gets the better of Fully ChargedFace The Odds gets the better of Fully Charged
© Photo Healy Racing

Face The Odds came with a perfectly-timed challenge to grab Fully Charged in the closing stages of Tipperary's beginners' chase.

Fully Charged had the field in trouble as he raced clear turning for home. At this stage, Face The Odds began to make headway in third but still had plenty to do.

He moved into second after the penultimate fence and was soon ridden by Sean Flanagan to try and take closer order on the leader.

Fully Charged started treading water before the final fence and Face The Odds cut right into the gap. He soon had the scent of victory and finished well to grab the tiring leader well up the run-in.

Noel Meade 's horse took the honours by a length and a half at 8/1. Fully Charged went off the 7/4 favourite. Blackhillsofdakota was a remote third, some 17 lengths away at 5/1.

Jockey Flanagan said: "He saw the trip out well. His wind hadn't been great all along and I was cautious enough with that in mind and I've ridden him to come home. He has jumped really, really well, albeit when I asked him at a couple he was too up in the air.

"Better ground is a big help to him, he is by Presenting and he is a grand honest type of summer horse. The cheekpieces are to help him concentrate but he is very genuine and he'll step up from that again."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.