Demon pulls it out of the fire in BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap

Fire Demon (9/4F) wore down Cross The Tracks (12/1) in the final strides to provide Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding with a second consecutive victory in the BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap.

The jockey and trainer teamed up with subsequent G1 King's Stand Stakes sixth Desert Cop 12 months ago and again appeared to hold leading claims with Juddmonte colt Fire Demon, who had won twice at Kempton Park over the winter.

Cross The Tracks made a bold bid from the front and looked to have his rivals on the stretch when bounding into a two-length lead a furlong and a half out. Fire Demon quickened powerfully down the stands’ rail and collared the leader close home for a length verdict.

Blue Prince (13/2) flashed home from the rear to take third, despite having to be scrubbed along by Cam Hardie for much of the race.

Oisin Murphy said: “Fire Demon was in good form and looked great in his coat. Andrew was very sweet on him.

“A stiff six furlongs probably does suit him. If he was on a different continent, you’d imagine that he would get a mile going two turns in America.

“He is really straightforward to ride now. We ran him over seven furlongs a few times early on, where he led and didn’t quite finish, but this sort of test really suits him.

“I hope [he has the scope to compete at a higher level]. He is all there now, and it’s lovely that Juddmonte are such good supporters of Park House Stables.”

Irish apprentice Sean Bowen said of the runner-up: “Cross The Tracks ran a cracker. He was well handicapped and travelled everywhere.

“The saddle did slip on him; I probably would not have liked to have been as prominent as I was, but I couldn’t fault him – he galloped all the way to the line.”

Blue Prince’s rider Cam Hardie said: “He never really travelled early doors, usually he jumps and travels a lot better. You could probably see him running over seven [furlongs] the next day, as he stayed on nicely.

“He has chilled out since he was a two-year-old. Mr Evans is doing a great job with him and he will be one to keep an eye on for the grass as well.”

Fire Demon wins the BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap (credit: Grossick Racing Photography)

2.25pm BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap

1 Fire Demon (Juddmonte) Andrew Balding 3-8-12 Oisin Murphy 9/4F

2 Cross The Tracks (Phil Cunningham) Richard Spencer 3-8-02 Sean D Bowen (5) 12/1

3 Blue Prince (G & A Racing) David Evans 3-9-02 Cam Hardie 13/2

11 ran

Andrew Balding – 7th Finals Day winner

Oisin Murphy – 5th Finals Day winner