Top-weight Lord Of The Lodge was rewarded for a string of excellent performances during the All-Weather season as he made all in the seven-furlong Bombardier All-Weather Championships Apprentice Handicap.
The four-year-old was sent off the 5/1 joint-favourite following three placed efforts for trainer Karl Burke this year, most recently when chasing home Mums Tipple in the Listed Bombardier Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton.
Lord Of The Lodge wins the finale on Finals Day
After being sent to the front of the 14 runners by Pierre-Louis Jamin, Lord Of The Lodge skipped clear in the straight and never looked in danger. The fast-finishing Amber Island (11/1) got to within a length and a quarter of the winner at the line, with Count Otto (14/1) finishing a neck back in third.
Jamin said: “We knew coming here that Lord Of The Lodge had a good chance dropping back in grade. Everything went to plan.
“He tries very hard and has been in good order at home. As you can see, he is looking great, and we thought he had a great chance.
“The plan was to get to the front and get an easy lead – he did and picked up well. We didn’t want to push as I just wanted to leave him be and let him do everything himself.
“Mums Tipple ran well earlier and watching that just improved our confidence.
“It’s great to finish the All-Weather season with victory in this, riding a horse like Lord Of The Lodge in a race like this. I moved to Karl Burke’s yard three months and it is going well.”
Bombardier All-Weather Championships Apprentice Handicap
1 Lord Of The Lodge (Elaine Burke) Karl Burke 4-9-07 Pierre-Louis Jamin (3) 5/1 jfav
2 Amber Island (David Lowe) David Loughnane 4-8-02 Laura Pearson (3) 11/1
3 Count Otto (Count Otto Partnership) Amanda Perrett 6-8-12 George Rooke 14/1
14 ran 5/1 jfav Ayr Harbour (4th)
Karl Burke – 1st winner on Finals Day
Pierre-Louis Jamin – 1st winner on Finals Day
