Irish Horse Lands Massive Gamble (50/1 into 11/4) At Lingfield

Brabazon, trained in Ireland by Emmet Butterly, landed a huge gamble in the opening Tanridge Amateur Riders’ Handicap at Lingfield this afternoon. The gelding was having his first start for the rookie trainer, having been off the racecourse for 892 days, and was clearly expected to deliver the goods today. Brabazon was best priced 50/1 early this morning, but returned the heavily backed 11/4 favourite, winning easily by ten lengths.

The same connections (of Brabazon) were also involved in the infamous Cybersnow case which hit the headlines earier this year. That gelding was at the centre of a lengthy Turf Club investigation into allegations he ran under the name “Man About Town” in an unregistered race in Co Donegal in June 2009. His owner James Ferry lodged a successful appeal with the Turf Club after the gelding had initially been banned from racing for two years in May. The horse then won three of his four starts of 2010, having been well backed on each of his four starts.

Brabazon was ridden in his three hurdle runs by his current trainer Emmet Butterly. However, the gelding, under the current rules, is not eligible for a handicap mark having failed to get to within 45 lengths of the winner on either of those hurdle runs.