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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Winged Leads them home in hunters

Sun 23rd Jan 2022, 16:36

Winged Leader and Barry O'NeillWinged Leader and Barry O'Neill
© Photo Healy Racing

Prolific point-to-pointer Winged Leader proved too hot to handle for his rivals as he produced a fine front-running performance to claim the concluding hunters chase on the card at Thurles.

The David Christie-trained gelding won the early battle for the lead in the three-miler and had his rivals at work before the home straight.

There was a long run to the line, with the last fence omitted, and the Winged Love gelding stayed on stoutly, for Barry O'Neill, in the closing stages to record a 12-length win over 10/11 favourite Billaway

It was a third 'track' win for Winged Leader who has also claimed nine victories between the flags.

"He was very good beforehand and I was very happy coming here and I thought he had improved a lot from last year,” said Christie.

“We have deliberately campaigned him fresh this year because we'll aim for some of the bigger targets in the spring.

"He'll get a Cheltenham entry, as will Vaucelet, although I've always thought he'd be a fair horse for Aintree.

"The rain is bound to come and Naas can get very heavy so it might be too close to Cheltenham. One week changes a lot in a horse's life but at this moment I'm very happy to give him a Cheltenham entry."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)

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.