Lavelle enjoys adventure despite ground catching out Casino

Emma Lavelle was pleased with the effort of Casino Markets in finishing eighth in the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap Hurdle at Saratoga on Thursday, but felt he had been unsuited by what she described as "rattling" fast ground.

Casino Markets travelled well for a long way under Leighton Aspell but found himself outpaced in the closing stages of the ten-runner 2m3f Grade 1 contest as Diplomat sprung a surprise in coming from near last to first to defeat the ex-Jessica Harrington-trained Modem by three lengths.

Lavelle had suggested more targets could be explored in the US if Casino Markets had performed well enough, but she now expects the nine-year-old to make his way home to Britain.

"He travelled away great and came up on the outside but was just feeling the ground," said Lavelle. "He then missed the second last, they got away from him and it literally then becomes a Flat race.

"It was a great experience, the people at Saratoga were lovely to deal with, but I'd say he is probably not the right kind of horse for those sort of races. You definitely need something that wants unbelievably quick ground, as much a Flat horse as a jumper."

Lavelle said she will keep options in the US in mind should she come across a suitable horse in future and added: "We all had a wonderful day and it was a very sporting decision by the owners to run, but I would say Casino Markets will probably come back home now."