Fairyhouse Easter Festival: Gamble can provide Lee with another big race success

David Metcalf | March 29, 2016

Top Gamble holds all the aces in Normans Grove Chase

Kerry Lee has enjoyed incredible success in her first season as a trainer, and Top Gamble can provide her with another big race winner in the Grade 2 Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse today (15.55).

The eight-year-old has developed into a high class chaser, winning five of his 10 starts over the larger obstacles and finishing in the frame on three occasions.

In the last of those successes at Newbury 45 days ago, Top Gamble posted a career-best effort when beating last year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Dodging Bullets by 10 lengths in the the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase.

The gelding raced prominently at the head of affairs, before taking up the running at the seventh and gradually turning the screw on his rivals.

After being driven at the third last, Top Gamble drew clear and ran on strongly to win easing down at the line.

Tough sort and a terrific jumper

Although it is easy to question how strong the form is, given that it was the runner-up’s first outing after a lengthy lay-off, the manner of the victory could not have been more impressive and the front two pulled 27 lengths clear of the third home.

Top Gamble is also a really tough, bold jumping sort who may well have more to offer and his trainer has been shrewd in bypassing Cheltenham to keep him fresh for this.