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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Flanagan times it just right on Russian Bill

Mon 30th Sep 2019, 18:15

Russian Bill, near side, hunts down the leader Court TycoonRussian Bill, near side, hunts down the leader Court Tycoon
© Photo Healy Racing

Russian Bill got up on the line to deprive Court Tycoon on the line in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Hamdicap Chase in Roscommon.

The pair fought out a battle after the last with Court Tycoon holding a very slight advantage but the 7/2 favourite was driven home by Sean Flanagan right on the line.

He won by a head from the 7/1 runner-up. Bellgrove (14/1) finished third, some 11 lengths off the joust for first.

Noel Meade said: "He likes soft ground and it slowed the rest of them down.

“He hasn't really showed us an awful lot over fences so it was nice to see him coming back and winning something.

“Even though he was favourite I didn't really think he'd win to be honest and I didn't think he had won even at the line!”

Russian Bill's last victory came in January 2015.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.