Heliko Conti (red cap) collars Grivei close home © Photo Healy Racing
Having shown ability in a couple of runs over hurdles, 18/1 chance Heliko Conti found plenty for pressure to win the bumper under Finny Maguire.
The five-year-old was in an unpromising position towards the rear as the field turned for home after what had been a steadily-run affair.
Switched to the outer inside the final quarter mile, the Lauro gelding still had plenty to do in fifth passing the furlong marker but picked up well to collar 5/6 favourite Grivei close home. Half a length was the winning margin with Spanish Present a further length and a half away in third. Passing Well was being ridden just behind the leaders when brushing the rails, jinking and unseating rider two furlongs out.
After Rebel Early’s victory at Cork yesterday, Heliko Conti was completing a good weekend’s work for winning trainer Liam Burke who said: “He got murdered everywhere, he had nowhere to go. He's a fair horse to pick up the way he did.
“He ran well in Gowran in a winners-of-one hurdle when he was only a short-head behind Willie's horse (Dark Voyager) who is rated 130.
“We were too far out of it then, if we had rode a different race we might have frightened them.
“I was never going to be riding this fella, it's enough to train him. I've cut him out of all the good bumpers now because he's run over hurdles.
“Obviously we'll keep him a novice for next year. We'll run in a winners race somewhere or else run in a good hurdle somewhere.
“He's a decent horse, he has a great attitude and nothing fazes him. When you go for him he finds, I don't often have one like that.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
