Brothers net a double for owner Michael Owen

MICHAEL Owen was given something to cheer about at Uttoxeter yesterday as the footballer's colours were carried to victory in the opening two races at the Midlands venue.

Owen's Manchester United team-mates are currently in America on a pre-season tour, but the former Liverpool and Real Madrid man is still recuperating from a hamstring injury that saw him miss the end of last season.

First to hit the target for the striker was Paddy Partridge in the oddschecker.com Novices' Hurdle. No great shakes on the level for Tom Dascombe where he earned an official handicap mark of 50 in seven starts, Richard Johnson was always in the right place and the 15-2 chance beat the favourite Freedom Fire by six lengths on his hurdling debut.

Holoko Heights (9-2) was a winner on his hurdles bow last year but lost his way thereafter. Given an easier task than that of his seasonal return at Market Rasen in the Byrkley Garden Centre Selling Hurdle, he won by two and three-quarter lengths.

The pair are full brothers, being out of Owen's good racemare Treble Heights and the top stallion Pivotal. Both are trained by Tim Vaughan, who said: "It's incredible really that they are brothers because they are not alike. Paddy Partridge is very honest, whereas Holoko is a bit reluctant when he hits the front.

"Richard said he tried to get a tow into the races for as long as he could, but they both stay very well so he wasn't afraid to kick on early in the straight.

"I actually thought Michael was going to put his hand in his pocket and buy me next year's Grand National winner or a Gold Cup winner, but I'll have to work on that."

Meanwhile, Ed Dunlop admits it was a difficult decision to supplement Snow Fairy for Sunday's Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh due to the adverse weather forecast.

Owner Cristina Patino also forked out the supplementary fee for the Oaks at Epsom, a move that paid dividends with Ryan Moore steering his way through the field for a tight victory over Meeznah. However, with rain forecast to hit Ireland this week, Dunlop thought long and hard before asking his owner to stump up the cash again.

"It was a difficult decision really with the ground situation. Having won the Oaks, going on to the Irish Oaks, that wasn't a difficult decision, but we looked at every website imaginable, spoke to lots of people and we've been brave and done it," said Dunlop.

"I spoke to Paul Hennessy at the Curragh on Wednesday morning and he said they'd had seven millimetres of rain last night, but it's sunny there at the moment and windy which is good.

Let's hope it doesn't get too soft - not just for us but for a lot of the other fancied runners.

"She's due to leave here on Friday morning and get there Friday night.

"I don't go until the day of the race and I would think it's more than likely that she'll run rather than less likely but who knows? Let's see what the weather does.

"I always thought she'd be a better filly as a two-year-old on slower ground. She's worked on the watered gallop this year and handled it very well, but the ground at Newbury when she ran badly was very bad, tacky ground - the racecourse had been used a lot and she just go stuck in it.

"I'd be surprised unless it rains and rains that they'll have that ground at the Curragh.".