Spanish Conquest
The two-mile handicap hurdle at Haydock on Saturday probably wasn't that hot a contest after the Jonjo O'Neill horse Forty Five had been taken out, but you can only ever beat what is put in front of you, and Spanish Conquest did so with ease. Travelling well under Rhys Flint throughout, just behind the leaders, he moved up to take it up over the third last, picked up nicely over the second last and then just cut loose. He was six lengths clear over the last and came home 14 lengths clear of runner-up Stoop To Conquer. This was Philip Hobbs's gelding's second start in four days. As such, he was allowed race off the same mark as the mark off which he won a conditional riders' contest at Kempton the previous Tuesday. He will get a fair whack from the handicapper for these two wins, but there is no telling the magnitude of his progress now, and he should be worth following.
21th March, 2009
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