McCourt scores with High Skies The Tom McCourt trained High Skies carried top weight to land the Joe Rea Memorial Handicap Chase in the hands of Paul Townend at odds of 12/1. Townend was hard at work on the son of Kahyasi from three out but under a strong drive by Townend the pair improved to lead before the last and kept on well for a five and a half length win over The Hedge. Winning trainer McCourt stated: “We are kind of running out of options for him, he’s a big horse and you’d think he’s want a big galloping track but he actually wants a tight track.” “He loves fast ground and the tight tracks suit him as he can have a breather and get some air into his lungs as he has a bit of a palate problem.” “We might bring him to England but it’s only a slight possibility.”