Natural Look and Shane Fitzgerald lead their rivals home© Photo Healy Racing
Natural Look bounced back from two disappointing efforts last month, as she comfortably dismissed her 14 rivals in the Follow Us On Instagram Mares Handicap Hurdle.
Placed four times last season and successful at Gowran in October, the Declan Queally-trained seven-year-old was sent off a 12/1 chance after finishing down the field on her most recent start at Downpatrick.
Given a patient ride by Shane Fitzgerald, she improved into second approaching two out and eased to the front on the run to the last, stretching clear on the run-in to record a comfortable three-length success.
The Philip Rothwell-trained Phils Choice (16/1) ran on well to take second under Adrian Heskin for Philip Rothwell, while Theonewedreamof (16/5f) was another length away in third.
"She was in season the last day at Downpatrick and I'd say the journey up didn't suit. I worked her twice last week and rode her myself. She worked really well," Queally revealed.
"We knew after Downpatrick that there was room for improvement, she was a good price and I told Shane to forget the last day as she'd nearly win. The owners had a few quid on and it was an easy watch.
"It is nice to come here to Cork and win."
STEWARDS REPORTS
K. Callaghan, rider of Angelsworknovrtime trained by James Andrew Fahey, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount ran too keen throughout this race.
The Raceday Stewards requested a report from Declan Queally, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Natural Look, placed first, as compared with its recent run at Downpatrick 18th June when finishing twelfth of fourteen runners beaten twenty six lengths by the winner Cottie. Declan Queally stated that his charge was transported to Downpatrick the previous day and stayed overnight. He added that in running, the filly did not travel during the race as reported to him by the rider. He confirmed today that the filly was found to be in season the day following that run. As a consequence of the reports furnished to a Stewards' Secretary today, the Raceday Stewards interviewed Declan Queally, trainer. He explained that his charge was noted to be in season on the day following the race at Downpatrick. He accepted that he had failed to report this matter in the first instance to the IHRB Officials' or offices and furthermore he thought that S. Fitzgerald, rider, had reported that his mount did not travel in the race but neither he or the trainer had complied with Rule 213. Having considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that Declan Queally was in breach of Rule 213 by failing to report at the first instance anything that might have affected the running of his charge at Downpatrick and referred the matter to the Referrals' Committee.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
