Zak wins again over Christmas at Limerick

Cappacurry Zak scored at the Limerick Christmas Festival for the second successive year when taking the Ladbrokes Rated Novice Chase.

The Arakan gelding won over hurdles here last year for regular partner Ryan Treacy and again relished the heavy ground conditions at Greenmount Park.

The 3/1 favourite jumped past the front-running Fiddlers Bow at the penultimate fence, and stayed on really well for a 12 lengths victory in this 2m6f event. Oscar Lantern kept on one paced a further three lengths back in third.

Winning trainer Leslie Young said, “He won here last year in a three-mile handicap hurdle. He likes those conditions and in Thurles the last day he probably just hit the front too soon and idled when he got to the front.

“I wanted to get a lead into it today and it worked out. He loves the ground and he stays and he jumps. He’ll stay chasing and we’ll let him tell us where he stops.

“This time last year he was second three times (over fences) and was just unlucky to keep running into one.

“They seemed to go a good gallop early for the conditions and he’d stay all day.”

STEWARDS REPORTS

A.E. Lynch, rider of Nomanbehind trained by Anthony Curran, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount didn't handle today's going.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Fiddlers Bow trained by James Joseph Mangan was found to have lost a left fore shoe post race.

K.M. Donoghue, rider of Steamboat Quay trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a bad mistake down the back and pulled up.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Steamboat Quay trained by Gordon Elliott was found to have lost both fore shoes post race.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Take The Cash trained by Andrew McNamara was found to have lost its left fore shoe post race.