Sir Gerhard and Chemical Energy face a major battle
A PAIR of Down Royal Festival bumper winners could have a major say in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham today.
Sir Gerhard, having won his point to point, was bought by leading owner Cheveley Park Stud for £400,000 and duly won in runaway fashion on his course debut in the second session of last year’s local racing Festival.
Chemical Energy, meanwhile, beat a very high-class horse in On Eagles Wings when landing the winners’ bumper on the first day at the Lisburn venue — however, the talented pair will need to improve to beat Kilcruit.
Kilcruit was ultra-impressive when winning at Leopardstown last time and is seeking to deliver a double for the Masterson family, already on the scoreboard after Appreciate It won the opener at the Festival yesterday. Balko Des Flos was fourth in the feature of the Down Royal Festival in 2018 when rated 169 but alters disciplines and contests the Cross Country Chase today rated 152, while Out Sam finished third in the Ulster Grand National in the same year.
The market appears distorted with dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll the 4/1 second favourite, but he has shown nothing in recent starts on the flat and hurdles.
The French-trained Easysland, the winner of the event last year, could well be currently overpriced.
Chosen Mate was taught his trade by Templepatrick handler Colin Mckeever, while Entoucas finished third to the mighty Envoi Allen at the 2019 Down Royal Festival and has major claims in the Grand Annual Chase.
THE tour ended as it had started with Ireland Wolves suffering a crushing defeat by the Bangladesh Emerging side — 30 runs is a big margin in a T20 match.
It shouldn’t be seen as a surprise. This was the 19th game that an Ireland side — from men to Under-19s, via women and the Wolves — have played in Bangladesh and they have never recorded a victory. Their infrequent appearances on the sub-continent is a valid excuse but, worryingly, over the last month the performances did not improve as the tour progressed.
The bowlers again gave away too many boundaries (23) and extras (six wides and two no balls), and while six Wolves batsmen reached double figures, the hosts — who recalled their big guns — still had the two highest scorers.
The Wolves, set a victory target of 185, were always an over behind the run-rate and, crucially, lost too many wickets.
After Stephen Doheny and Harry Tector had put on 45 for the second wicket — after Gareth Delany had gone third ball — there was only one other partnership better than 18, the wicket-keepers’ union of Lorcan Tucker, who had the gloves yesterday, and Neil Rock adding 30.
In contrast, the Bangladeshis did not lose their fourth wicket until the 14th over — taken by Shane Getkate, who, like Curtis Campher, bowled only one over — and were able to add 61 from the last six overs, mainly thanks to outrageous hitting from Shamim Hossein, who smashed four sixes in his first eight balls.
The Wolves were grateful that he was run out, after being sent back by his partner, or they could have been set over 200.
Scores: Bangladesh Emerging 184-7 (20 overs, Towhid Hridoy 58, Saif Hassan 48; P Chase 2-36, C Campher 1-14, S Getkate 1-14, M Adair 1-20, G Delany 1-24) Ireland Wolves 154 (18.1 overs, L Tucker 38, S Doheny 29, S Getkate 26 not out, H Tector 22, N Rock 16, M Adair 11; Sumon Khan 4-28). Bangladesh Emerging won by 30 runs.