Fortune favours Great Oak Incredible scenes at Cork as Tarla and Cnoc Seoda both fell at the last when disputing the spoils in the Grade 3 mares novice chase, thus handing the race to Great Oak. Tarla (4/11 favourite) and Ruby Walsh held the upper hand throughout the race as they dominated from the front. Cnoc Seoda (16/1) and Rob Jones tried to close but looked beaten coming to the last where both mares crumpled on landing, giving both their jockeys no chance. Great Oak, who was well behind in third, duly navigated a route through the carnage to win under Mark Enright at 14/1. Trainer John Nicholson said: “That’s my first blacktype. They are there to be jumped. I would have been happy with third, but Christmas came early. “Her form was good all along and she was unlucky in Clonmel not to get blacktype as she took on Tarla that day. “I didn’t enter her over Christmas as there aren’t a lot of races for her. Today was the plan.” The places were occupied by fellow long-priced runners Our Girl Lucy (16/1) and Glibin (20/1). (Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
