Call bounces back to form Cristy's Call stuck on gamely in the closing stages to prevail in a thrilling finish to the SHS Sales & Marketing Handicap Hurdle at Down Royal. The 20/1 shot arrived pulling double before the second last hurdle, under Danny Benson, and soon had a narrow advantage. He wasn't great over the last and had to knuckle down on the run-in to get home by three-quarters-of-a-length from another 20/1 shot Gold Tantrum with Glen Orchy Lad just a short-head back in third. The Gavin Cromwell-trained winner was bouncing back to form having been well beaten on his most recent outing at Kilbeggan in mid-July. "He's a real flat horse. The ground is the key to him. He was a bit disappointing the last day in Kilbeggan,” said Cromwell. “He has won and been placed seven times this year. His owner is from Dundalk so he'll be aimed there. If the ground stays good though we'll go for another one of those." Owner Frank Lynch played in Louth's only All Ireland winning team in 1957 when he was the youngest on the team and played left half forward. He said: "The colours are alright! (red and white). He's trained by a Meath man though!" It was a third success over hurdles for 20-year-old Benson who has also partnered 15 winners on the flat. Marmaladeskies was sent off the well backed 7/2 favourite (from 9/2) in the race but could only finish sixth. (Additional reporting by Michael Graham)
