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Tom Weekes

Tom Weekes

Timely win for Ronald Pump's trainer

Sat 13th Mar 2021, 15:35

Bigz Belief and Dillon MaxwellBigz Belief and Dillon Maxwell
© Photo Healy Racing

Trainer Matthew Smith received a timely boost at Navan today as his Bigz Belief made all the running to win the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle for jockey Dillon Maxwell.

The son of Make Believe was clear of his rivals for most of the two-miles race and in the end held off runner-up Shakeytry by five and a half lengths.

Three weeks ago, Smith withdrew his last year's Cheltenham's Stayers Hurdle runner-up Ronald Pump from next week's renewal of the race, due to a splint injury, and following today's win, reported “that was badly needed.

“That was the plan, I told him (Dillon Maxwell) to jump out and make it.

“I was a little bit worried about the ground. He gave him a good ride, steadied him up and then let him on again.

“His jumping was an awful lot better, he got in close to one but he jumped great. I'm delighted with that.

“He had good form in maiden hurdles and he learned a bit from his handicap debut against older horses last time.”

Quotes from Gary Carson

About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.