Kieran Buckley © Photo Healy Racing
Pont Audemer was the subject of plenty of support throughout the day and the money proved to be shrewd as he comfortably took the second split of the 80-95 handicap hurdle.
he was inn rear of the 10 runners rounding the home, but still well in touch, and came widest of all with an eye-catching run to close on Port Rashid two out.
That leader was a sitting duck as Pont Audemer touched down in the lead and asserted in good style before the last.
He cleared it well and strode in to score by four and a quarter lengths at 3/1 from a best-priced 8/1 this morning. Fiery Brown stayed on for second at 13/2 and was seven and a half lengths clear of Port Rashid (25/1) who showed up well for a long way after a long absence.
Jockey Kieran Buckley said: "It was my first time riding the horse, I had ridden him plenty at home and he is a cracking little horse. He had won in France but it took him a while to get the hang of things over hurdles.
"He dropped down in grade today, there were only ten runners and he has done it very, very nicely. It took a while for him to click, but hopefully can progress."
This continued trainer Gavin Cromwell's red-hot form as this was his 10th winner in just over a fortnight.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
