Phelan well represented at Lingfield
Pat Phelan's Representingceltic won his third 'jumpers' bumper' on the bounce at Lingfield on Tuesday.
Last Updated: 29/01/13 6:12pm
Jumping problems had prevented the winner from reaching the heights hoped for him at one stage, but he is developing a name for himself in these events.
"Three in a row is very difficult for horses like him. Unfortunately the owner is not here as he's sunning himself but he's already been on the phone," Phelan said.
"What would be ideal is a programme of these races, as 0-95 handicappers have lost a year's livelihood really and there has to be some compensation.
"The owners of these horses depend on their racing, not for money but for fun.
"This lad has his issues jumping so to get three on the spin at this stage of his life is great. He looked like being a very good horse early on. We'll have to see if his jumping has improved."
The former Barry and Charlie Hills-trained Ransom Note could finish only third in the Billeshurst Wood "Jumpers' Bumper" National Hunt Flat Race behind Mick Channon's Foster's Road (16/1) who wore down Shernando and Tony McCoy close home.
Easily the most impressive winner was the Seamus Mullins-trained Giveagirlachance (16/1) in the Lingfield Interactive Mares' Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race.
As a relation of Ireland's bumper king Willie Mullins winning these races comes naturally to the Wiltshire handler, who also saddled the third, Chambray Dancer, and the winner obliged by an eased-down six lengths under Andrew Thornton.
Mullins told At The Races: "To be fair Andrew deserves the credit for this as he had ridden her work at Lambourn and said she was in the sales and we went and bought her on spec.
"She'd been working well at home and I said to Andrew to drop her out and ride her for speed. She came there very easy, much easier than I expected, and I thought he'd gone a bit soon to be honest but it's plainly the way she likes to run."
Thornton said: "It's my first day back after 10 days off, I had a fall in the paddock here and tore my bicep so doing 10st 7lb wasn't easy but she was worth it.
"When she ran at Exeter she only had 10st so I couldn't ride her and she didn't like the soft ground. She's only just turned four so she probably needs a sound surface at the moment and the older she gets the better she might handle deeper ground.
"She's a nice prospect."
The Charles Egerton-owned and trained Dr Livingstone (5/4 favourite) followed up a win at Kempton on Friday in the Lingfield Park Owners Group "Jumpers' Bumper" National Hunt Flat Race.
Winning jockey Sam Twiston-Davies said: "I was panicking a little bit but fair play to the horse, he picked up well.
"Luckily he had enough in the tank to go around the houses and he's gone and done it well."
Suzy Smith's Natural Spring (4/7 favourite) won the Marsh Green "Jumpers' Bumper" National Hunt Flat Race under Paddy Brennan.