Rebel springs Ascot surprise

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Last Updated: 01/05/19 3:19pm

Ventura Rebel ridden by jockey Paul Hanagan winning the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial Conditions Stakes during Royal Ascot Trials Day Ventura Rebel ridden by jockey Paul Hanagan winning the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial Conditions Stakes during Royal Ascot Trials Day

Ventura Rebel ridden by jockey Paul Hanagan winning the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial Conditions Stakes during Royal Ascot Trials Day

A review of the action from trials day at Ascot including a 20/1 juvenile winner for our columnist Richard Fahey.

Ventura Rebel floored odds-on favourite Lady Pauline in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial Conditions Stakes at Ascot.

All eyes were on the Wesley Ward-trained juvenile, who is a half-sister to multiple Group One winner Lady Aurelia, as she attempted to back up her debut success at Keeneland last month in the five-furlong contest.

Everything looked to be going to plan for the 4-11 favourite at the two-furlong pole, with John Velazquez sitting confidently at the head of the field.

That picture quickly changed when Velazquez asked for Lady Pauline’s finishing effort though, and as her stride began to shorten, she was eventually reeled in by the Richard Fahey-trained Ventura Rebel, who went on to claim victory by a length at odds of 20-1.

The winner, who was claiming a second career success, was introduced at 14-1 by Coral for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and Tom Palin, spokesman for owners Middleham Park Racing, said: “I don’t there was any fluke about that.

“It was a nice, honest race and it probably rode like a nice race. We did it on debut in the same manner and we have really put them to the sword today.

“Since his debut he has sharpened up a lot. He did a really nice piece of work a week and a bit ago, and Richard rang me and said that Ascot race is where you go and you will run well. I’ve never heard Richard talk about one of ours like that.

“I think he is a proper horse. He is not a slow horse by any stretch of the imagination. I think Paul was suggesting it took him a long to pull him up and with the manner he was finishing it off – all roads lead to the Coventry with him now.”

As for Lady Pauline, Velazquez pointed to the long trip as a possible reason why she came up just short.

He said: “I thought she ran well. It seemed like she got tired in the last 16th of a mile. She has only been here a few days and part of the trip might have knocked it out of her a little bit.”

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