Noel McParlan has an anxious moment on Mount Colah as Moscow Mannon leads over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Mount Colah has proved a great servant to connections but recorded his sixth and most significant victory under rules to-date when taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
The eight-year-old had to overcome some sticky jumping at the final three fences but finished with such effect that regular partner Noel McParlan could give him a congratulatory pat down the neck before the line.
That outcome seemed hard to believe as Moscow Mannon and Mallowney looked set to dominate the finish going to the last.
However the Beneficial gelding really picked up for McParlan on the run-in and ultimately scored by a comfortable length and three quarters from Moscow Mannon at odds of 6/1.
Mallowney was another two lengths back in third.
Winning trainer Jerry Cosgrave said, “He didn’t just jump the way he usually does. Noel thought he’d lost it three out but he came back well and he’s very gutsy. He has a nice bit of class too. He did the same at Thurles but it was probably a worse mistake there. He seems to get it wrong at the odd fence.
“I had him entered in the Grade 2 at Navan but it came up too heavy. Being a front-runner he can be hard on himself and he’s not a big horse. We’ll look for a Graded race for him.
“Two miles is his optimum trip and his dam is a half-sister to Newmill. He pulls hard and he has to get to the front. He got that 2m1f well and we might be able to stretch it a bit on better ground.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
