Sport

Blinkers working well for Dominie

DOMINIE, a reformed character of late, can gain reward for changing his ways in the Exeter Handicap Hurdle today

Wed Mar 20 1996 - 00:00

DOMINIE, a reformed character of late, can gain reward for changing his ways in the Exeter Handicap Hurdle today. Kim Bailey's eight-year-old has looked none too keen in the past, but in his two most recent outings, the Crash Course gelding has been equipped with blinkers, and the headgear seems to have had the desired effect.

Following an unpromising ninth to The Last Fling at Newcastle in mid-January, Dominie produced a much better effort in blinkers at Sandown.

Held up by Bailey's talented conditional rider Timmy Murphy, Dominie made good headway towards the leaders on the turn for home and held every chance when capsizing at the penultimate flight as Martin Pipe's Ever Smile went on to win.

There is every chance he would have played a leading part in the finish at Sandown, as he went on to prove in the last National Hunt race to be staged at Nottingham, which took place at the end of last month.

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Again partnered by Murphy, he improved to lead with three flights remaining and responded well to pressure on the run-in to defeat Pride of May by three lengths. The third horse, Derring Valley, was a further 11 lengths in arrears.

Once again sporting blinkers at Exeter today and with Murphy in the saddle, Dominie remains on a handy mark and will take plenty of stopping if able to reproduce his Nottingham running.

The Heavitree Brewery Challenge Cup Handicap Chase can go to Super Tactics. The Irish eight-year-old has shown plenty of ability since joining Robert Alner, including when winning a handicap chase over two and a half miles at Kempton in February.

On the strength of that effort he was made the 6 to 5 favourite for a similar event over two miles and five furlongs at Uttoxeter but failed to deliver, beaten into third place behind Corrarder.

He travelled strongly throughout the race, only to let his supporters down when pressure was applied. In view of that fact, it is possible that he failed to stay, and Super Tactics should be given another chance over two and a quarter miles now.

Graham McCourt has made a good start to his new career as a trainer, and Lance Armstrong can defy a 5lb penalty for him - and complete a hat-trick in the process - in what looks an uncompetitive Heat Diamond Handicap Chase. McCourt rides again.