12-1 from 66! Trainer ends 339-day drought with well-backed winner

Sunday: Chepstow

A gamble was landed as Harriet Brown trained her first winner since February when Valirann Gold was backed into 12-1 from 66-1 for the 2m handicap chase.

The six-year-old had displayed little in three previous starts this season but had been showing some encouraging signs since finishing sixth at Warwick, convincing his trainer to let him run from outside the weights.

Under Shane Quinlan, he transferred his form to the track, jumping boldly from the front and always appearing to have the measure of 6-4 favourite Prime Pretender in winning by nine and a half lengths.

The victory was a first for the Dorset-based trainer this season, having not been among the winners for 339 days and sending out 29 runners in the period. It was Quinlan's first winner of 2023.

Brown said: "I'm really happy with that and it was much needed in a way. We're a small yard and it's tough against the bigger stables. It's great to get one on the board and reward the hard work and patience of everyone.

"He had always shown us a lot at home but had just been slightly frustrating. It's nice for both sets of his owners and one half are the yard's landlord, so it's great to get a winner for them."

Valirann Gold opened at 66-1 but became subject to interest late on Sunday morning, being backed down across the boards, even reaching 10-1 at one point.

Of the gamble, Brown said: "It's not from us. I was quite surprised to be fair. He came over from Ireland and was a little sick last season, we probably shouldn't have run. Then he had a wind op and he's improved now he's learned to race over fences.

"He completely missed the start at Warwick but galloped through the line. We took that as a positive but I didn't expect him to do that. The light weight might have been a huge factor and he just got into a lovely rhythm."

Fine prospect

Kerry Lee enjoyed a third-place finish with novice hurdler Nemean Lion in Saturday's Tolworth Hurdle and unleashed another potential talent in the division with Atlanta Brave.

The five-year-old was making just his second start under rules but showed a good attitude under Richard Patrick to hold off Ed Keeper.

The trainer said: "That was good. He's only just turned five and is quite a big horse, so will be given plenty of time to come into himself. He's a nice chap though, he'll be a three-miler in time and I'm very happy with him."

Lee does not have any immediate targets either for Nemean Lion after finishing three and a half lengths behind Tahmuras at Sandown.

Double on the day

Ciaran Gethings enjoyed a perfect day, riding two winners from as many rides.

He coasted clear on 3-1 favourite Galice Macalo in the 2m mares' handicap hurdle to provide Jane Williams with a fourth winner of 2023.

The rider doubled up on the Kim Bailey-trained Moonlighter in the 2m3½f handicap chase.

Results, replays and analysis

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