Chavajod and Leigh Roche© Photo Healy Racing
Chavajod confirmed the promise of some useful placed runs when landing division one of the Donate To The Coast To Curragh Cycle In Memory Of Pat Smullen Handicap at Roscommon.
Sporting the colours of Galway Football Manager Padraic Joyce, the well-backed 9/4 favourite led well over a furlong out and soon asserted under Leigh Roche to score in decisive fashion.
The Michael O’Callaghan-trained gelding had three and a half lengths to spare at the line over Designer Cailin with Faraah a further length and three quarters back in third.
O’Callaghan said, “He had the form in the book. The form of the Galway race has worked out well and also the Leopardstown race that he was third in.
“We’ve found the key to him is good ground. Leigh’s plan going out was to sit about sixth as he felt there would be plenty of pace on. There was a bit of a pace burnout and he’s won well. Hopefully the handicapper is not too hard on him and he should be able to win another one.
“Seven furlongs or a mile suits him and maybe even a mile and one in time as he’s out of an Aussie Rules mare.
“I’m delighted to get a winner for Padraic Joyce and it’s the first horse that I’ve had for him.
“Unfortunately he couldn’t make it today. It would have been nice for Padraic to win in Galway but he was placed and he was happy. Winning here is the next best thing.
“We had a visor on him the last day and Leigh said the blinkers just helped him to concentrate and made him a little bit sharper, a bit more tactical pace.”
