The Reverend pips stablemate to lift Old Borough Cup

The Reverend defied trainer William Haggas’ pre-race worries with a narrow victory over stablemate Dramatic Star in the Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup at Haydock.

With stable jockey Tom Marquand on board, The Reverend was the 7-2 favourite for the prestigious handicap, despite the fact Haggas had voiced his concerns about the drying Merseyside turf.

Dramatic Star was the first of the Haggas pair to hit the front after being delivered with his challenge on the far side of the track by Jason Hart, but Marquand’s mount was doing his best work at the finish and got up to score by a neck.

Haggas said: “I thought he wanted softer ground, so what do I know? But he was in really good form today, he went to post beautifully – really full of zest .

“When he’s been not as good he’s quite keen, but today he raced beautifully. I’m sorry the other horse got beaten, but he ran a good race – he was in front a bit early and just had a look, but it wasn’t his fault, it was just the way the race worked out.

“The winner came off the bit two (furlongs) out and we haven’t really run him over a mile and six much before, but he ran right to the line and did well.

“I haven’t got any plans for him that I can think of. He’s won a £100,000 race today, which is what we kept him in training for.

“You’d have to ask Sean (Graham, racing manager to part-owner Tony Bloom), but I think it’s quite likely he’ll go to Willie Mullins at the end of the year – and then come back to (Royal) Ascot and beat us next year probably. That’s the usual thing!”

Haggas also landed the other £100,000 handicap on the card – the Betfair Plays In A Different League Handicap – with 4-1 shot Valiancy.

Fitted with cheek pieces for the first time having been placed twice since his first career victory at Hamilton in June, the three-year-old knuckled down for Saffie Osborne to beat Ride The Thunder by three-quarters of a length.

Haggas added: “He’s quite a lazy horse and he just kept going at the same speed, but fortunately it was quick enough.”

Democracy Dilemma led his rivals a merry dance in the Betfair Be Friendly Handicap.

Robert Cowell’s sprinter rocketed out of the stalls and after being steered across to the stands’ rail by Tom Eaves, the 12-1 shot did not see another rival on his way to an emphatic four-and-three-quarter-length success over 2-1 favourite Luna A Inbhir Nis, who was bidding for her seventh win of the season.