Samcro suffers WKD KO

SCOTTISH raider Bedrock, brilliantly ridden by Rachael Blackmore, turned over hot-pot Samcro in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle in Down Royal yesterday.

On his final start for Scottish trainer Ian Jardine, having been sold to race in America, the 12/1 shot tracked front-running Sharjah and Samcro, quickened into the lead between the last two flights and stayed on to triumph by a length and a half.

Winning rider Blackmore, below, said: “I was expecting a big run from him, but he surprised me today. He’s a horse on a major upward curve. And that was a phenomenally good performance.”

Gordon Elliott, trainer of the 4/9 favourite Samcro, was philosophical: “You’re always disappointed when you don’t win. I was happy with the way he travelled and jumped. He came to win at the second last but had a blow, got tired and didn’t finish out his race.”

Jack Kennedy, rider of Samcro, suffered another major setback when handed a 10-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency on Sir Ector in the three-mile handicap hurdle.

Elliott enjoyed better luck when Delta Work made a successful chasing debut in the beginners event, earning a crack at the Grade 1 Drinmore at Fairyhouse.

Earlier, the Willie Mullinstrained Sancta Simona followed-up her hurdle debut success in Galway by landing the Grade 3 mares novice hurdle under Barry Geraghty while Noel Meade’s First Approach proved a runaway winner of the opening maiden hurdle under Sean Flanagan.