Patient approach works with Field
Arbourfield and Billy Lee prevail from Sister Slew
© Photo Healy Racing
Arbourfield (20s into 12s on track) was produced fit and well by Prunella Dobbs, off a 539 day break, to land the Follow Us On Twitter Handicap under Billy Lee at Dundalk.
The Moss Vale gelding travelled well, and it was the eventual victor, and Sister Slew (12s this morning into a returned 6/1), that dominated the closing stages.
They pulled four and three parts of a length clear of the third placed Easy Boy and up front Arbourfield (led from two furlongs out) had half a length in hand over Sister Slew.
In the aftermath Mrs Dobbs reflected: "Patience has paid off. He ran nicely as a two-year-old and we just decided last year that we wouldn't train him. We let him mature and develop.
"He had no injury at all. Giving them a year off is unusual as a three-year-old but it paid dividends.
"He's quite speedy and may be better over six furlongs, I'm not sure yet. We'll keep him to handicaps.
"He likes fast ground so hopefully we have a good summer."
(GC & EM)