The ‘Duke’ on top at Lingfield

13 February 2013


THE familiar colours of Dr Marwan Koukash were in the winners’ circle again on Wednesday when Gabrial The Duke took a 1m2f handicap at Lingfield. The son of Duke of Marmalade was having his first start for the stable off a lowly mark of 53. He was backed into 9/4 favourite and made no mistake in getting off the mark under top-rider Jim Crowley. Crowley settled his mount at the rear of the field where he travelled strongly. He kept to the inside rounding the final bend but he had a wall of horses ahead of him with a furlong to run. Thankfully the gaps opened and Gabrial The Duke picked up well to hit the front and win convincingly by a length. Crowley said: "He got into a bit of trouble on the home bend which may have helped him wake up."