Jumps jockey Steven Pateman says there are better wins in store for Blandford Lad after landing his second hurdle victory.
Blandford Lad gave away a healthy start in the Ladbroke It! Hurdle (3400m) at Sandown on Sunday before running down jumps debutant, former Melbourne Cup starter Constantinople.
The Peter Gelagotis-trained galloper is unlucky not to be unbeaten in three starts over jumps, having tasted defeat at Warrnambool last start after scoring a debut win at Pakenham in maiden hurdle company last month.
Sent out a $3.40 chance in betting, Blandford Lad ran down the $2.45 favourite Constantinople to score by three-quarters-of-a-length with Runaway ($7) seven lengths off in third spot.
“Last start he got parked at the second-last jump,” Pateman said.
“It was a huge run and he deserved that win today, but he still had to chase down the favourite.
“He stays very well. He was building the further we went and he’s a neat little horse.
“This race, on this day, always produces a good one. I’m tipping his next start will be a feature race and he’ll be hard to beat.”
Gelagotis said he would speak to Pateman for his advice on where to run Blandford Lad next start but suggested an outing on the flat may be on the agenda.
He said following that outing he would find a suitable jumps race.
Gelagotis got extra satisfaction out of the win after overcoming “bad luck” at Warrnambool.
“It’s great to see your horses race consistently, hold their form and be competitive,” Gelagotis said.
“At different stages of his career he has shown me great ability and it’s lovely to see him pick up a handy flat horse that had made the race his own.
“He had to dig deep. It was a stirring finish. It could have gone either way and I’m just grateful our horse got the job done.”
