Brace enjoys a double

WELSH trainer David Brace made his trip to Gloucestershire worthwhile when landing a double of wins at Maisemore Park.

His home-bred six-year-old Gats And Co (pictured) by Dr Massini gave him his first win when heading the division one maiden 6yo and up under Bradley Gibbs.

“He’s out of a lovely French mare and his brother is Paint

The Dream who is with Fergal O’Brien,” said David.

“We hurdled him a little bit just for experience because he was so big, but I needed him now to go pointing for the rest of the season and then hopefully go under Rules and novice chasing next season. He’s straightforward and jumps and stays. I foaled him down myself so it’s a dream to see him performing so well.”

Experienced pointer Robin

Des People was next up, winning the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) and Jockey Club veteran conditions level two 9yo and up (division one) also under Bradley Gibbs.

“He’s a gem of a horse, easy to do and really good looking,” said David. “He would like the ground a bit quicker, so hopefully we’ll

“I couldn’t have asked for a better horse”

JOSH BARBER

have a few more runs with him. He’ll be the perfect schoolmaster for my grandson now.”

Division two was won by Michael Bowen’s 11-year-old gelding More Buck’s who, in the process, gave jockey Josh Barber his first win from his fourth ride.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better horse,” said Josh, who has just completed his amateur rider category A course at Doncaster. “My instructions were to go in front from the start and he travelled the whole way. He made a bad mistake at fence eight, but he kept travelling away and turning up the home straight I was still in front and he went on to win. To have a front-running winner was amazing.”