Razoul impresses on debut over fences

Razoul bounced back to his best, as he put in an impressive performance to land the Newtown Cove Beginners Chase on his debut over fences.

A winner of the valuable Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel last September, the five-year-old gelding had been disappointing in three starts since the resumption of racing.

Stepping up in trip to two mile five for the first time this afternoon, the Ray Cody trained bay was sent off an 8/1 chance (14s in early shows) under Donagh Meyler.

Settled behind the leaders, the son of Mastercraftsman got to the front at the second last and a nifty jump at the last sealed the deal, as he stretched clear on the run-in, going on to score by four and a half lengths in the colours of Ballygallon Stud. Line Out (5/1) finished second under Denis O’Regan for John Kiely, while Zambezi Fix (10/1) was another three parts of a length back in third. Dommage Pour Toi a Grade 2 winner over flights, was sent off the 5/4 favourite and he finished a disappointing seventh. He was however later found to be clinically abnormal post race.

Meyler said afterwards: "It was a very impressive performance I thought. He did lose his way a bit but stepping up in trip and fences brought out the best in him.

"I actually said in an Irish Field piece recently that he was one horse I was looking forward to riding over fences and stepping up in trip, so I'm glad he didn't make a liar out of me anyway.

"He only had two schools over fences, he went to the Curragh and jumped a few there. He was always a natural over an obstacle and I was really looking forward to riding him.

"You have to remember he won a Lartigue and won it impressively and he showed his class there again today. I'm glad to see him back in good form."

STEWARDS REPORT

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Dommage Pour Toi (FR), trained by Henry de Bromhead, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be clinically abnormal.