18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Master Matt Smith's handicappers in good form

Fri 9th Aug 2019, 20:49

Master Matt and Billy Lee working in unisonMaster Matt and Billy Lee working in unison
© Photo Healy Racing

After saddling One Cool Poet to three victories in a week at the Galway Festival, Matthew Smith enjoyed another success with Master Matt in the five-furlong handicap at the Curragh.

He finished fifth in Leopardstown last night, when suffering a less than clear route, and attracted plenty of support during the day from as big as 20/1.

The 7/1 co favourite made good headway coming to the final furlong and took aim and headed Enough Said in the final 150 yards.

He forged on well to score by a length and a quarter from Miacomet who stayed on well for second at 11/1. Face Off (7/1cf) was a neck away in third and Bahlwan (12/1) completed the placings in fourth in this 17-runner contest.

Matthew Smith said: “He was unlucky last night (in Leopardstown) but that’s the way it goes. I wasn’t sure about the ground tonight as he never really ran on anything worse than good, but he’s a big strong horse and I was happy enough to let him take his chance.

“He can be a bit of a monkey in the stalls and acted up in Limerick and Down Royal. That’s why he’s loaded last.

“Billy (Lee) said he doesn’t do a thing when he hits the front.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
7/1Cfav
Tote €7.90 €2.30
2nd
1.25L
11/1
€3.30
3rd
nk
7/1Cfav
€2.20
4th
0.5L
12/1
€3.40
bf
1.25L
7/1Cfav
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.