I'm A Game Changer (Darragh O'Keeffe) leads from Whatsnotoknow (Donie McInerney)© Photo Healy Racing
With favourite Felix Desjy underperforming before departing three out, his former stable companion I’m A Game Changer (14/1) came to the fore to take the honours in the Grade Three Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase at Thurles.
Bought out of the Gordon Elliott yard for 12,500 pounds in September, I’m A Game Changer now competes for the I’m A Game Changer Syndicate and Andy McNamara.
Formerly successful cross-channel for Philip Hobbs, here Darragh O’Keeffe got a sweet tune from the Arcadio gelding to secure a first win since December 2018 (and 1st in a chase).
Another faller in the two and a quarter miler was Montagne D’Argent, at the last - Cheltenham hero Sean O’Keeffe stood down after the spill - but there was just no living with I’m A Game Changer on this occasion.
He accounted for Whatsnotoknow and Zarkareva by eight lengths and four and a quarter lengths.
"I thought turning-in he might run into a place but Darragh said he was fierce confident and won well. We had been riding him that way in good races to try and pick up a few quid and while he has been doing that well, today's race was a slightly lesser race than the ones he had been running in,” said McNamara.
"He has had a few issues but is on the right path at the moment and hopefully he will stay going that way. We had thought about tipping away in these races and leave him as a novice again for next season but we're not too upset that that plan has gone out the window.
"He'll keep going for the summer and there are loads of races for him.
"We are good family friends of the Molonys as well and I'd have known Pierce well so am delighted to win their race.
"His nine-member syndicate are based all over Ireland and there is another one in Australia, it's their first horse and they'll be thrilled."
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Montagne D'argent trained by David Harry Kelly had blood at both nostrils possibly as a result of a fall.
(TW & EM)
