Soldier Of Fortune Geldings Make Winning Rules Debuts

Lieutenant Mayne (5g Soldier Of Fortune – Tudor Fashion, by Presenting) made a smart start for new connections when winning Saturday’s bumper at Musselburgh.

The Soldier Of Fortune gelding finished third in a four-year-old maiden on his sole start for Brian Hamilton last season and was well-supported ahead of his rules debut for John McConnell. Chasing the leader for much of the way, he was ridden from two furlongs out and began to rally a furlong later. Leading soon after, he kept on well to beat the favourite by five lengths.

Bred by Daryl Deacon, Lieutenant Mayne is owned by the Stone and McNeill families.

Another point-to-point recruit to make a successful rules debut was Blazing Soldier (6gSoldier Of Fortune – Blazing Belle, by Presenting), who landed the Novices’ Hurdle at Newcastle the following day.

Previously trained by Harley Dunne, the chesnut was making his first start of the season for Mark Walford. He raced in touch throughout under Jamie Hamilton and was asked to quicken from three out. Improving to lead before the final flight, he was ridden out to deny the favourite by a neck, with another eight and a half lengths back to the third.

Blazing Soldier is owned by the Racing To Profit Syndicate and was bred by Declan McGuinness.