Lancaster takes Gladness again in style

Lancaster House quickened up impressively to land back-to-back runnings of the TRI Equestrian Gladness Stakes at the Curragh.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt, running in the colours of Mrs Gay Smith, went to post the well supported 9/4 favourite in the seven-furlong contest.

Ryan Moore tracked the leaders on the Galileo colt before sending him to the front with a furlong-and-a-half to run.

The five-year-old soon settled matters and went on to post a cosy two-and-a-half length win over Current Option in the Group 3 event.

Lancaster House had also been an impressive winner of the race last year but had been well beaten in Group 1 company when last seen at Ascot in October.

O’Brien said afterwards:- “He’s a very solid horse and it’s a nice bit of ground which he likes.

“Ryan was very impressed with him and felt he had loads of horse. He finished very well.

“It was nice that he was able to drop in today and get a lead. He made the running in this race last year.

“He’s very versatile and has won over nine furlongs in soft ground at Listowel.

“Ryan said we could look at the Queen Anne, and Lope Y Fernandez could go for the Lockinge.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)