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- Bottle lands a gamble under Hayes
Donal Murphy
Bottle lands a gamble under Hayes
Bottleofsmoke comes home clear of Chapter Seven
© Photo Healy Racing
The Gavin Cromwell trained Bottleofsmoke landed a gamble in the Kilrane, O'Callaghan & Co.Solicitors Handicap.
Having opened at 9/2 on-course, the bay four-year-old came in for plenty of market support, going off the 5/2 second favourite.
Without a win in nine starts for Michael O'Callaghan, the son of Big Bad Bob switched to Cromwell's yard late last year, winning on his seventh outing for Cromwell at Wolverhampton in March.
He finished sixth to Mademoiselle Penny at Cork on Saturday, and turned out again quickly this evening he was settled behind the leaders by Chris Hayes.
He came through to lead with over two furlongs to race, and kept on well under pressure from there, going on to score comfortably by four lengths.
The Ger Lyons trained Chapter Seven proved easy to back on-course and went off the 2/1 favourite (from 13/8, was as short as 5/4 this morning). He raced in rear, and ran on into second up the home straight, but never really looked like reeling in the winner.
Cromwell said afterwards: "We weren't going to run him. He's entered again at Dundalk on Friday night and I was afraid he wouldn't get in. There is nothing really for him for about another month after that.
"We changed tactics a small bit. He was in front very early, and I was surprised how genuine he was. He could run again on Friday."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee