'It's taken a long time' - River Chorus rewards Phil McEntee's patience

Friday: Wolverhampton

Phil McEntee celebrated his yard's return to form after River Chorus claimed a breakthrough success at the 23rd time of asking.

The filly scored in the second division of the 7f handicap by three lengths under Daniel Muscutt, rewarding the patience of owners Carol and Dave Whymark.

"We've kept her for a year and a half now and I assured her owners she would win races," McEntee said.

"I'm delighted for them. Her home work has been good and that is why I haven't sold her, because I knew this filly would come back and bite me on the ass.

"That performance is what I expected a year ago – it's just taken a long time to get there. Now she's got her head in front she's in again on Monday at Lingfield and Dan is able to ride, so we'll go for it."

The success came after a double at Chelmsford on Thursday for McEntee, who is relieved his runners are hitting form following a bad spell at the yard.

"We had two months of dirty scopes, week in and week out – it was horrific," he said. "The all-weather season started and we geared our year around it and then had sick horses for weeks.

"It's been very frustrating but our owners have been patient and now that's our third win in the last 24 hours, so hopefully there's more to come."

Muscutt, who is enjoying his best-ever season by some way, completed a double when the John Butler-trained Measured Moments scored in the 1m½f handicap to notch back-to-back successes this month.

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