Phidelma Elvin steers Gain De Cause home© Photo Healy Racing
Tony Martin's Gain De Cause relished a step up in trip at Fairyhouse to win the Fred Kenny Ladies National Handicap Steeplechase for Phidelma Elvin.
The seven-year-old gelding made headway four out and poked his head in between Charlie Stout and An Fraoch Mor rounding the home bend. Halsafari and Routine Excellence also stayed on to make a wall of five horses racing to the third-last fence.
Gain De Cause led narrowly there and the margin was extended upon touching down over the next.
Routine Excellence tried to pick up the chase in second at the final fence, but well-supported 15/8-favourite Gain De Cause didn't give him a sniff on the run-in.
The winner prevailed by three lengths from the 13/2 runner-up. Halsafari (8/1) dropped three and a-half lengths further back in third.
Elvin said: “I got a good jump at the fourth last and, from there, he kept on strongly all the way to line. He was so brave for me at the last.
“I’d ridden winners in point-to-points and over hurdles and a bumper but I didn’t have a chase winner to my name. Last year I made a bucket list and to ride a chase winner and a winner for Mr McManus were on it. Today it all came true for me.”
The Raceday Stewards received a report from the Clerk of the Scales, Mr P.L. Malone, that Miss S. Ahern, rider of Bold Emperor placed sixth, had failed to weigh in post race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who stated that it was an error on her part as she was unaware that her mount had finished in the placings. Having considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that Miss S. Ahern was in breach of Rule 227(i) by failing to weigh in and having taken her previous record into consideration, they suspended her for two racedays. Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 230, the Raceday Stewards disqualified Bold Emporor from sixth place. The result now reads; First - Gain De Cause (Fr), Second - Routine Excellence, Third - Halsafari, Fourth - Charlie Stout, Fifth - An Fraoch Mor.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
