What a Cracking Chap

Cracking Chap and Mikey Fogarty teamed up well in Navan to win the two mile maiden hurdle for trainer Colm Murphy.

The five-year-old son of High Chaparral travelled strongly into the race on the outside as the leaders approached the second last. As Drunken Counsel on his inside started to wilt at that flight, Cracking Chap came through and hit the front jumping the final hurdle.

He was a bit untidy at the last, but fairly powered up the hill under Fogarty for a two-length success. He was returned at 5/1. Macnicholson the 6/4 favourite, kept on for second but was unable to pose a threat to the winner. The 16/1 chance Texas Tea rounded out the places in third.

“He’s been a bit frustrating and he was way too free the last day in Punchestown,” handler Colm Murphy said.

“Mikey got him really settled, so much so that I don’t think he knew he had a race. We’ll see what Noel [handicapper Noel O’Brien] gives him. He’s so hard on himself. That’s his biggest problem.

“We’ve been waiting all year for some nice ground so we’ll keep him on the go.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee