Impaire Et Passe and Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
Impaire Et Passe got his chasing career off to a successful start when justifying prohibitive odds in the SIS Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse, although the race was marred by the loss of one of his rivals and an injury to Jack Kennedy.
The Grade 1 winning hurdler put in a solid round of jumping and was sent to the front between the final two fences by Paul Townend.
The Willie Mullins-trained 2/13 chance was left clear when his nearest two rivals O’moore Park and Twoohthree both fell at the last.
He galloped on well to beat Staffordshire Knot by 12 lengths with Big Stage a further six lengths back in third.
Twoohthree sustained a fatal injury in his fall while rider Jack Kennedy was taken to hospital for examination.
IHRB Chief Medical Officer Dr Jennifer Pugh later posted on X: “Jack Kennedy has been transferred to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown for X-rays and further assessment on an ankle injury sustained in the first race today.”
Townend said, "He was class. He jumped brilliant, he got a bit lackadaisical in the middle of it but when I opened him up at the back of the second last he took off.
“He had a great jump at the last and did everything I wanted him to do. He stood off when I wanted him and was good at getting in. I'm very happy.
“He was quick over the first couple and popped away when I wanted him then. When I lit him up at the back of the second last he took off.
“He went to sleep on me after jumping the two out of Ballyhack and I was happy enough not to light him up that far out.
“I was hoping when I did he would come alive and he did — mustard.”
Quotes by Gary Carson
