Matin D'Anjou beats left to right, Venezia, Cesar Du Gouet and Oighear Dubh© Photo Healy Racing
We witnessed quite the conclusion to the Three.ie Rated Novice Chase at Tramore and in the end it was another winning favourite after race two at the County Waterford venue.
Unfortunately after Bettatogether coming to grief earlier, the second last was bypassed, and it was all hands on deck to make sure the runners negotiated their passage home.
Then we were dazzled by all the greys in the mix as they approached the business end.
For Robbie McNamara and Bryan Cooper strongly-backed 11/10 market-leader Matin D'Anjou eventually upstaged three of these greys — Cesar Du Gouet Oighear Dubh and Venezia
Cesar Du Gouet did best of the rest, losing out by just half a length to Matin D'Anjou.
"That was brilliant. I knew the trip was going to be the issue. Just with his mark I thought the handicapper was a little lenient after Wexford. We ran him over two miles the last day at Galway but it's too short for him, we took a chance with him today," said McNamara.
"We'll step him up now, he wants two five or two six at least. It was a nice little race and Bryan gave him a beautiful ride. Hopefully we'll get the double later.
"I don't have anything in mind for him, but he might go back over hurdles. He is rated 104 over hurdles and we might try exploit that a little bit."
D.N. Russell, rider of Dawerann trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was badly hampered and was pulled up thereafter.
(DM & EM)
