Recharge denies Intense Focus

Leopardstown: Recharge caused an upset by beating Dewhurst winner Intense Focus in the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial at the…

Leopardstown:Recharge caused an upset by beating Dewhurst winner Intense Focus in the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial at the Dublin track.

The Kevin Prendergast-trained colt wore down Jim Bolger's runner in the final 100 yards after Born To Be King and Liebermann had set a steady pace.

Recharge (9-4) had to be switched to the outside to make his run and went on to score by a length from the evens favourite.

Sky Bet reacted by pushing the runner-up out to 25/1 from 20s for the Stan James 2000 Guineas while Boylesports are the same price from 16s.

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William Hill pushed Intense Focus out to 25-1 from 20s for the Newmarket race while the winner was introduced into the betting for the Irish 2000 Guineas as 12-1 by the same firm.

Prendergast said: "After getting into trouble the jockey had to stop him and recharge so he did it well.

"I thought the ground would be a shade quick for him, so I'm delighted he handled it.

"I doubt if he'll run again before the Irish 2000 Guineas and he has an entry for the Irish Derby.

"He should not have trouble getting a mile and a quarter."

Bolger and Kevin Manning gained compensation by landing a quick double with Three Rocks (100-30 favourite) in the Leopardstown Aertel Page 277 Handicap and Maoineach (7-2) in the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial.

The latter staked a claim for the Stan James 1000 Guineas with a smooth victory over Heart Shaped, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on

her last start.

Empress Of France and the favourite Chintz led the field round the home turn but the race soon changed complexion.

Heart Shaped briefly hit the front but she had no answer to the surge of Maoineach who went on to win by a length and three-quarters. Smart Coco was third.

The sponsors were impressed, cutting Maoineach to 20-1 from 40s for the Newmarket Classic while William Hill went 14-1 from 25-1. Victor Chandler cut the winner to 14s from 33s and the runner-up to 20s from 33s.