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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Lets Go Champ left clear to get off mark in Tipperary

Tue 18th Apr 2023, 14:54

Lets Go Champ and Rachael Blackmore Lets Go Champ and Rachael Blackmore
© Photo Healy Racing

Itstimetomoveon crashed out at the final flight to leave 4/9 favourite Lets Go Champ to come home clear in the first division of the extended 2m4f maiden hurdle in Tipperary.

The front pair moved clear on the run to the final flight and Itstimetomoveon certainly had the favourite on the stretch as the pursuer came under a drive from Rachael Blackmore.

Everything changed in jumping, though, as Aidan Kelly was given no chance of maintaining the partnership on the leader who took a plunging fall which unfortunately proved fatal.

Henry de Bromhead's Lets Go Champ was able to stride in by some eight and a-half lengths from Kansas City Star (10/3). Pray Tell was another couple of lengths back in third at 33/1.

Blackmore said: "He picked up, but there was definitely going to be a battle on after the last. 

"He handled the ground, but it is getting summery. He has had his problems and hopefully he'll progress from that."

Former point-to-point winner Lets Go Champ had been placed in his two previous maiden hurdles at Punchestown and Naas.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

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.