Stakes Target For Churchill Colt Following Impressive Hat-Trick

Take Me To Church (3c Churchill – Chances Are, by Dandy Man) will step up to Stakes level after completing an impressive hat-trick of wins in the Madrid Premier Handicap at Naas on Sunday.

Jack Davison’s charge won a Dundalk maiden in November and returned to the track last month to win over seven furlongs. Contesting the same trip on Sunday, he led for much of the way and was travelling well with two furlongs left to race. Nudged further clear a furlong from home, he was ridden out to win by six and a half lengths under Ronan Whelan.

“It's nice when a plan comes off and to bring up the hat-trick by winning the Madrid is a great result,” the winning trainer later said. “He's a turf horse really and I knew what he did at Dundalk wasn't going to be what he could do on turf but he still won twice. You don't mind forgoing their handicap mark when they win a premier handicap in that style and you know you have a black-type horse.”

Davison earmarked the Gladness Stakes as his target for Take Me To Church, who is owned by David Byrne and partners. The Churchill colt was bred by Magnell Ltd out of Chances Are, who has a two-year-old filly by Saxon Warrior.