Bonzo Bing stretches away from eventual third Rebel Laker© Photo Healy Racing
Bonzo Bing ended a barren spell for both trainer Bill Harney and rider David Splaine when justified odds-on support in the Lisronagh Maiden Hurdle.
The 4/7 shot was prominent throughout in the two-mile event and, despite running quite green in the straight, kept on well to beat promising outsider Aracataca (50/1) by two and a half lengths. Rebel Laker (8/1) was a further length and a quarter away in third.
Harney said, “It’s about time I got one, and he’s been placed a few times. He’s a nice horse but he’s still a baby. We’ll go for a winners of one next, and he’ll be going chasing next season. The further the better for him and he’d want 2m4f or even three miles.
“After he ran in his point-to-point he needed two screws inserted in his leg below the cannon bone. People might not buy him because of that but he’s perfect and it should not affect him.”
Splaine said, “He’s a nice horse and will make a nice staying chaser in time. I wanted to sit third or fourth in the race and he’d a good look around in front. We hacked over the first mile and I was conscious of the need to up the pace. He wants a lot further.”
Harney was without a winner for 11 months, while Splaine’s run without success stretched back 83 mounts over five months.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
