Campeador© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott trained Campeador enjoyed a chance of luck at Fairyhouse today as the gelding effortlessly won the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase to give jockey Keith Donoghue a first winner for owner J.P. McManus.
Campeador's career thus far had been marked by misfortune as he was a final fight faller, when holding every chance, in the 2016 Fred Winter Hurdle at Cheltenham before again falling at the last on his next start, the following December, when clear in a Grade A Hurdle at today's Co Meath venue.
Today the grey gelding was attempting to bounce back from an early fall - his fourth from six previous starts, on his chase debut at Navan last month but jumped well when easily beating stablemate Roaring Bull
The win was jockey Donoghue's first success for owner McManus and afterwards the delighted rider stated “he's a lad that's had a few falls but he's always been well able to jump.
“He was the best horse in the race there and that made it a lot easier for him as I didn't have to ask him a whole lot.
“I was delighted to get the ride. It's nice to get on a horse like him as he has plenty of ability. I knew if he got round he'd win.”
Trainer Elliott rode a winner on one of only two racecourse rides as a jockey for McManus (winning on Shannon Gale in 1996) and following Donoghue's breakthrough success remarked “Keith gave him a great ride and he jumped very well.
“He's a horse with a good engine but he's just been very unfortunate.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
