A dream 1st success on the racecourse proper, Ben Harvey after winning the Ulster National on Space Cadet© Photo Healy Racing
Space Cadet (25/1) gave amateur rider Ben Harvey his first success on the racecourse proper and provided trainer Gearoid O’Loughlin with his biggest win to date in the Randox Ulster National Handicap Chase at Downpatrick.
Harvey (10 point-to-point winners) and the first-time blinkered veteran Space Cadet proved a match made in heaven.
Six of the fifteen that set out managed to complete, and Space Cadet showed stamina in abundance to beat last year’s winner Amaulino by two lengths.
A grandson of County Dublin-based handler, David, Harvey had Space Cadet in mid-division, and they made headway into fourth at the seventh.
Closing three out, Space Cadet was ridden in third two out.
Second at the last, the Flemensfirth ten-year-old soon led, and he stayed on well under pressure inside the final furlong to prevail.
O’Loughlin trains the formerly useful Gordon Elliott-performer for his boss, Chris Jones.
County Clare native and Dunshaughlin-based O'Loughlin said: "Unreal, my voice has gone! A great pot to win and it is great for the owner to give me the horse.
"Ben (Harvey, jockey) had won his first point-to-point on him and, to tell you the truth, I thought he would run well today but I said to myself we would be going point-to-pointing again next year.
"It was a big shock to me, but obviously the blinkers worked a treat. I kind of had been holding off and holding off having them on him.
"I think they made all the difference and I probably have learned how to train him - the key to training him is not to train him! He hasn't done a stroke since he ran the last day.
"This is Ben's first winner (on the track). He comes into me as often as he can. He is in two mornings and he is a big part of the team. I just thought he knows him and the 7lbs off would help. He gets on as well as anybody with the horse.
"That's his (Space Cadet's) third National this year, so third time lucky!
"We'll have to think about an Irish National now as he will be high enough rated after that."
Rachael Blackmore, rider of Cheb De Kerviniou (FR) trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that her mount never travelled.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Cheb De Kerviniou (FR), trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(MG & EM)
