Double delight for Andrews

Three established trainers relish a brace of wins each while connections enjoy success with new horses

- By STEPHANIE BATEMAN

Cottesmore, Garthorpe, Leics

ON a bright afternoon at Garthorpe Gina Andrews landed a polished double, with longstanding stars Loughan and I’m Spellbound each claiming their 10th career wins.

Loughan, the 10-year-old by Yeats owned by The Partners of Wales, Crawford & Spence, made a smooth seasonal return in the ladies conditions (level one) race, dropping back in grade after a spell in opens.

“That was Loughan’s 10th win,” Gina said. “He's been a really good horse for his owners. He's a complete lunatic at home - he loves to go flat out - but he has so much talent. I thought it might be too quick for him, but he seemed fine. The plan is to stay pointing, keep him to ladies’ races, and let his owners have fun.”

Her second winner, I’m Spellbound, also struck for the 10th time, taking the 0-110 rated series race for The Signy & Marriage Families.

“He's really talented but much prefers pointing to National Hunt,” Gina said.

“We tried him under Rules last season but he didn’t enjoy the big fences. He's easy, travels strongly and is a lovely, straightforward horse.”

The 4&5yo maiden produced a popular local result for Louise Bevin, whose hometrained Kilaro bolted up under Paddy Barlow. The five-year-old by Coastal Path had shown ability early last season but lost confidence when running on unsuitable ground.

"We've had him since he was a three-year-old," said Louise. “We ran him at Higham, but the ground was too firm and he wasn't happy so he had last year off. He came in in August and I thought he was reasonably fit, but he absolutely bolted up today. Paddy said he was a completely different horse to last year.”

Louise, who rides him daily, admits he has quirks.