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Nick Mitchell backed up a gelding at Muswellbrook on Thursday who never got into a Bathurst race last week - with an immediate impact.

Seven-year-old Radical Impact ($4.80), given a superb Grant Buckley ride, clinched another win for the Hawkesbury trainer.

Having his 50th start, Radical Impact won his seventh race – and there have also been 17 placings – in a tight finish to the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1280m). He just held out Distinctive Look ($5), whilst pacemaker Local Hero ($7.50) battled on to finish third.

Left: Hawkesbury's Nick Mitchell. Image by - Bradley Photographers

Mitchell took Radical Impact to Bathurst last Friday for his first run from a short break, but he was never a winning chance. He ran sixth of 11 in the Bill Aspros Cup (1200m), and stewards reported he was disappointed for a run on straightening and then had to be steadied near the 150m when two others shifted in slightly.

“They went too quick for him early at Bathurst, and he didn’t have a lot of luck in the straight,” Mitchell said. "He pulled up that well he was squealing, so I decided to back him up.”

Buckley took full advantage of Radical Impact’s inside draw and gave him the run of the race in third place to the turn at Muswellbrook. He got him away from the fence on straightening, and the gelding sustained a determined run to get to the post in the nick of time.

It was Radical Impact’s first start at Muswellbrook. His other victories were at Nowra, Wyong on three occasions, the Beaumont Newcastle Track and Goulburn.

News courtesy - Hawkesbury Race Club

See the full results & replays for Muswellbrook here