The Flame Burns Bright

Tue 17 May 2022

WINNER 43 OF 2022: VENTURA FLAME, trained by Keith Dalgleish and ridden by Billy Garritty: 'The Blackwell Handicap' over 5f at Carlisle.

2nd in this race last year, we weren't concerned about the going changing to 'soft' yesterday afternoon, as she goes on all ground conditions. Towards the rear as they broke, Billy didn't panic and waited for the field to come back. At the 2-pole, he asked her for an effort and pulling out towards the centre of the track, she made good headway and soon moved into the lead. Billy had time to look around and only needed to coast her home as she went clear to comfortably win by 3 and a half lengths.

"Ventura Flame; the easy winner." Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/videos/watch/horse_racing_replays/390264-blackwell-handicap-5

Timeform rated it as a career best 92 performance, saying: "Fitter for reappearance, proved better than ever to record a convincing success, clearly more at home than most in the rain-softened ground; raced off the pace, ridden halfway, switched 2f out, headway over 1f out, led soon after, went clear final 1f, comfortably; she'll be hit hard for this and there must surely be a temptation to try and get her out again under a penalty.”

Congratulations to Billy on his 100th career win! He said in his Racing TV interview: "I am lucky to ride these good horses! They were going a good gallop and I hoped that they would come back to me. At the 1-pole, she saw them all off and didn't have a hard race. Job done!”

See the official photo gallery here: https://www.grossick.co.uk/p/80532khg/C385338483/x2-ventura-flame

Syndicate manager Mike says: "Well done to her owners on another win for her - the 7th of her career! The rains arrived and they ended up running on Soft ground which was certainly a help, as she has form on all going types. She was a very impressive winner and she put in a career best effort. As she won on a Monday we've got races until Friday 27th May where she can run off her current mark plus a 5lb penalty, so I have a few options for her. Three winners for us in 2 days, so the hot form continues.”