The phrase “a great servant to connections” could have been created for The Fonze who recorded his 16th career victory in the featured Limerick Junction Chase.
The gallant ten-year-old gelding took over in front after Echo Bob made a mistake two out, and the 11/4 favourite soon asserted under Shay Barry to beat Schelm (7/2) by seven lengths.
This was a welcome change of fortune for Barry, his first winner since New Years Eve, having missed four months at the end of last year with a fractured pelvis and had another spell on the sidelines with injured ribs after a fall at Ballinrobe in April.
Bobs Pride (lame) was absent, while Cuan Na Grai (burst blood vessel) was pulled up around halfway.
Winning trainer Eoin Doyle said: “He gave an exhibition of jumping and was very long at the fourth last. He was like a two-year-old down in the yard as he kept sweating up and we had to keep taking him out of his box. The Galway Plate is a possibility if he got a reasonable weight. He's a privilege to train as he travels so well and is so enthusiastic.”
