Whatever It Takes lands tidy gamble
The four-year-old High Chaparral gelding, backed from 14/1 to 13/2, got the better of Chill by a head after a tremendous tussle, giving trainer Madden and his son and namesake, better known as ‘Slippers’, a fourth win in eight days. An even more impressive statistic is the fact that Whatever It Takes, winner of his maiden in Clonmel eleven months ago, was Madden’s fourth winner from his last four runners (following Clancy Strand in Naas, Highdownhill in Roscommon and Urhavinalaugh in Sligo last week).
A man of few words, ‘Boots’ explained: “I suppose I’m on a bit of a roll. This fellow is only a handy horse and doesn’t like winter ground. Niall gave him a great ride and is flying at the moment (he rode a double in Downpatrick on Sunday). I was delighted with the way the horse battled for him. This was a nice pot to win and we’ll look for another similar handicap for him.”
