Drakensberg scales the peak again

Drakensberg (11/2) bounced back to form under Sam Ewing in the apprentice handicap over an extended 1m2f in Dundalk.

Tony Martin's eight-year-old gelding was switched to the inner in the final couple of furlongs and began to mount his challenge.

He came through to ask the question of Nudge The Judge in the final furlong and took over with 150 yards to travel.

He moved on to hit the line a length and three quarters clear of Nudge The Judge (15/2). There was a gap of four and a quarter lengths back to third-placed Matilda With Me (15/2 - 5/1f).

Tony Martin said: “That's great, he bounced back. The horses are running well and obviously he's after coming back into a bit of good order.

“The lads stuck with him, he wasn't shining for a while, and that's a big help. They are a happy bunch of lads now.

“He slipped down the handicap which obviously helped a bit. We'll get him home and see where he is, at least he ran well so away we go.”

This was Drakensberg's seventh career success.

The Stewards enquired into the apparent improvement in form of Drakensberg, trained by A.J.Martin, placed first, compared with its recent form. Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned and also from The Senior Rules Of Racing Handicapper Garry O'Gorman. Garry O'Gorman outlined the horses form, stating that Drakensberg had run to a mark of 75 at the backend of last season. After a 7 month lay off and numerous poor runs he was now running off a mark of 60 and he rated the improvement somewhere in the region of over a stone. A.J. Martin stated that his horses had been under a cloud recently, but appeared to have turned a corner with some of the other horses in his yard running back to form. With regard to Drakensberg, he added that he had been working well in the last 14 days, which he relayed to the owners and expected his charge to perform better than his recent runs. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the explanations offered.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson