Take Me To Church is ridden out by Ronan Whelan© Photo Healy Racing
Take Me To Church brought up a hat-trick in style as he blitzed his 11 rivals in the Irish Racing Writers Cliff Noone Memorial Madrid Handicap.
A E38,000 Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale purchase, the Churchill colt made the breakthrough on his fourth start at Dundalk in November, following-up on his return to action at the Co Louth venue last month.
Sent off a well-supported 4/1 chance this afternoon (from 6s), the chestnut victor soon got to the front under Ronan Whelan and never saw another rival.
Travelling best with over two furlongs to go, he readily increased his advantage when ridden inside the final 200 yards, coming home six-and-a-half lengths to the good in the colours of David Byrne & Partners.
The Michael Mulvany-trained Bid For Chester (10/1) was best of the rest, with Sluice (10/1) a neck away in third.
Returned the well-backed 11/4 favourite (from 5s), the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Guildenstern was slow away from the stalls and eventually finished sixth.
"He's a right little horse. It's nice when a plan comes off and to bring up the hat-trick by winning the Madrid is a great result," said Davison.
"He's a turf horse really and I knew what he did in Dundalk wasn't going to be what he could do on turf but he still won twice. He's progressed with every run and it's a fantastic result.
"I'd probably be in favour of having a go at the Gladness at the Curragh over seven, all going well. He has lots of options.
"He did win impressively. You don't mind foregoing their handicap mark when they win a premier handicap in that style and you know you have a black-type horse."
STEWARDS REPORTS
G.M. Ryan, rider of Guildenstern, trained by Donnacha Aidan O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount got upset in the stalls.
The Raceday Stewards reviewed an incident in the closing stages of this race involving My Mate Alfie ridden by C.T. Keane, placed fourth, and Guildenstern, ridden by G.M. Ryan, placed sixth, where it appeared C.T. Keane may have struck Guildenstern with his whip. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the matter, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that no riding offence had occurred and no further action was warranted.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
