Tom Gibney looked on as Intense Raffles coasted along in front down the side of the track at Fairyhouse. To be honest, the trainer tells you, it was a fairly easy watch. Brampton Belle closed a little on the run to the fourth last fence but, once the grey Martaline gelding landed over that fence, and rider Daryl Jacob gave him a little squeeze, Intense Raffles came away from his rivals again. After that, it was all very easy.
His rider spotted a stride at the third last fence, the horse flew the obstacle and, literally, in a couple of strides and a couple of seconds, Gibney’s horse had gone 12 lengths clear and was in cruise control as they raced to the home turn.
