Easy Game and Brian Hayes© Photo Healy Racing
Easy Game has proved a tremendous servant to connections and recorded his 15th career win in the featured PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon.
The 8/11 favourite, who also won this Grade 2 back in 2020 and has now amassed prizemoney in excess of €430,000, was partnered here by Brian Hayes in the absence of Paul Townend.
Hayes, who recorded three previous wins on the Nick Peacock-owned gelding including the Grade 2 Devenish Chase twice at Fairyhouse, sent him past Dollar Value at the fourth last after that rival had made a bad mistake at the previous fence.
Easy Game was far from fluent himself at the second last but was driven out and kept on well on the run-in to beat stablemate Kemboy by two and a quarter lengths. Battleoverdoyen was a further half a length back in third with Franco De Port close up in fourth.
David Casey, assistant to trainer Willie Mullins, said: “Brian said he was delighted with him. He was fresh and well early and he said he came alive when he went to the front going to the third last.
“He said he did it well, he said the ground actually felt a bit dead on him. He's a nice ground horse. We're delighted with him.
“We didn't know what Dollar Value was going to do, Brian said there was talk he was going to drop in. They were just waiting to see what he was going to do.
“It worked out in the end and they all ran well. Kemboy ran well, he's improving the whole time and he'll probably go to the north.”
When asked if Easy Game could go there as well he added: “Possibly but three miles is not really his trip I'd say. We'll see and a lot will depend on the ground.
“Franco De Port started off and he ran really well. He probably just needs a little bit further, it was a very good starting point for him.
“He might go to France in the middle of November for a big chase there. He ran well there in May so might go back for that.”
Quotes by Gary Carson
