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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Kingdom comes good in style

Wed 14th Dec 2022, 16:12

Higher Kingdom and Siobhan Rutledge clear of the fieldHigher Kingdom and Siobhan Rutledge clear of the field
© Photo Healy Racing

The John McConnell-trained Higher Kingdom skipped clear in the closing stages to take the first division of the mile handicap at Dundalk in fine style.

Siobhan Rutledge tracked the front-running Ellabella before sending her mount to the front a furlong-and-a-half from home.

The 17/2 shot soon asserted and pulled clear inside the final furlong to record a six-length win over French Rescue

Higher Kingdom, supported from 20/1, had won twice in England and was recording his first success since joining McConnell.

McConnell said: "It worked out very well. I think he is a horse that likes space - in Galway he was in front and I think he enjoyed that.

"He is well handicapped if you look at his form from England. He's a very quirky horse.

"When we bought him, Joe Foley told me they thought he was a Guineas horse as a two-year-old, but I think he has his own ideas about the game. He was on a going day today obviously, so that was great.

"He has got ability but he doesn't always give it to you, but he has today and the owner has been very patient."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.