Summer Star (nearside) beats Captain Arceus© Photo Healy Racing
The Ted Walsh trained Summer Star is a horse trainers dream of having and again showed a devilish ability at keeping on the right side of the handicapper when arriving with a wet sail to narrowly win the www.leopardstown.com Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown today.
The dual bumper winner, under regular partner Katie Walsh, repeated last month's course win with an exact replica of that performance. Then, the daughter of Medicean appeared to have plenty on her plate entering the straight before staying on strongly for a last gasp win.
Today, Summer Star had 12 rivals ahead of her when under pressure at the second last and was only seventh jumping the final flight. However, she picked up strongly on the run-in to edge past Captain Arceus in the dying strides.
Afterwards Walsh Snr stated “if you were betting in running she would have been some price (79/1 on Betfair)! When it works out its some ride but if she was beaten a neck you'd say she was asleep!
“She could never get any closer at any stage and also she 'missed' a few – the horse in front got a bit lonesome and she nabbed him on the line. She went up 10lbs for winning the last day and I'm sure she'll get a few more after this but it's just nice to win - if you're second you'll still get six or seven pounds.
“She has won two nice little handicaps and may be able to win a nice Flat handicap during the summer. It's always sweeter having Katie on board a winner!”
Quotes from Gary Carson
