'He's some legend' - Gardner stalwart Trans Express seals sixth course success

Lucy Gardner thought the abandonment of Exeter's pre-Christmas meeting last year cost stable legend Trans Express a chance to shine again at his favourite track – but 12 months on, she had reason to smile as she partnered the ten-year-old to a brilliant sixth course success.

Last year's card was called off due to unsafe ground as Trans Express was in the parade ring with connections confident he could land a fourth consecutive win in this 2m2½f handicap hurdle. That success would eventually come a year later.

He was taking on a field of young prospects on Thursday, mostly half his age, but he stayed on dourly up the straight to record a two-and-a-half-length win from Buckhorn George.

"He didn't cost a lot as we don't have big money to spend but he's turned out to be some legend," said Gardner, riding for mother Susan. "I know he's only won once anywhere else but all he does is try his heart out. He's wonderful."

Of last year's cancellation, she added: "He was walking around the paddock and we fancied him when the meeting got called off. I was sat in the weighing room when I heard the news, I said 'no way' and was absolutely gutted. I thought he was in better form then than he was today but this is brilliant and I love him."

Back in form

Harry Fry took great satisfaction in seeing former Grade 1-placed Momella finally show her true potential in the feature 2m1f mares' novice chase.

The eight-year-old looked poised to take the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle on her first run for the stable in November 2018 before stumbling two out. And that day left its mark, with the mare losing her confidence and suffering seven consecutive defeats.

Luck had gone against her too as she was brought down at the first last time and a loose horse almost caused her a similar fate again – but she and Sean Bowen avoided trouble to defeat Deja Vue by 12 lengths.

"She deserved that as she hasn't had a lot of luck," added Fry. "It sums up how it's been that she got taken out by a 200-1 shot and even coming up the straight I was worried about the loose horse and thinking it might happen again.

"She was running an absolute blinder on her debut for us before she came down and I haven't had a horse get so unnerved. It took her a year to get any sort of confidence back.

"It's great to have her back and she can take a lot of confidence from this."

Fry and Bowen recorded a double as Pure Bliss landed the opening 2m2½f mares' novice hurdle. Bowen was denied a treble on Lermoos Legend, who was narrowly defeated by Clondaw's Answer for Kayley Woollacott.

Results, replays and analysis

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