Francky flies home for feature success and Summer Plate could be next

A late but great finish from Francky Du Berlais sealed success in the feature Clarke Chase, and a crack at the Grade 3 Betway Summer Plate at Market Rasen could be in the offing in mid-July.

The Peter Bowen-trained chaser, owned by Roddy Owen, produced a career-best performance to deny long-time leader Pistol Whipped by a nose under Sean Bowen.

Bowen snr has won Market Rasen's biggest race six times, most recently with More Buck's in 2018, and appears to have a leading contender.

The winning rider said: "He was rapid after the last and likes to be ridden to finish well. He was in as good form as I've felt him and picked the right day for it.

"He could be one for the Plate at Market Rasen – a good strong gallop in these decent chases really suits him and his jumping has got better and better."

A photo-finish was required to split the first two home with the verdict met with cheers and jeers from the capped 3,000 crowd. There were 33 bookmakers on course at a meeting that previously attracted a crowd of up to 6,000.

Cheers all round

On this last Sunday in May, Back On The Lash struck in a classy three-runner 2m6½f novice chase and will bid to do the same at Uttoxeter on the last Sunday in June with trainer Martin Keighley eyeing the Listed bet365 Summer Cup.

Bowen sported the silks of Portugal-based owner Mark Boothright, who enjoyed high-profile success with former stable star Champion Court, with Back On The Lash defeating Interconnected by three-quarters of a length.

Keighley said: "There were three very nice horses in there and he had a tall order to give them a penalty, but he just doesn't know when to give up.

"He's had his three runs and we'll look at the Summer Cup here next month. Stepping up to three and a quarter miles shouldn't be a problem and it’s worth having a go at a big handicap."

Sofa success

DFS, eat your heart out! KC Sofas have branched out into racehorse ownership and struck lucky with Could Be Trouble, who took her record to 2-2 for connections in the 2m4f mares' novice hurdle.

The six-year-old sealed a hat-trick having won a mares' maiden hurdle at Gowran Park for Barry Fitzgerald before joining Donald McCain, and she was not far off an armchair ride for Theo Gillard here, carrying a double penalty and making all to score by three and a half lengths.

Could Be Trouble: struck for owners KC SofasCredit: Getty Images/Pool

Part-owner Jamie Charnock said: "She's our first racehorse and won on both her starts for us so you can't get any better than that.

"Myself and Neville King started the company seven years ago with £400 in our pockets and we've now got seven shops and it's building all the time. We thought buying a racehorse would be a great thing to do and if we get the same luck with Could Be Trouble that we did with the company, she's going to win the Grand National!"

Results, replays and analysis

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