Patience pays off with 'born chaser' Pride The D Pack Beginners Chase went the way of 28/1 outsider Clounts Pride, with Gary Noonan doing the steering on this Eoin McCarthy trained 10 year-old. The winner of a point-to-point on debut back in December of 2018, the son of Milan clearly met with setbacks in training and was second on his penultimate start at Clonmel. Settled in mid-division by Noonan, he took closer order from five out and soon improved into a close second. In front early in the straight, he was ridden and pressed on the approach to the final fence, keeping on well in the closing stages despite drifting to his left. The Dermot McLoughlin-trained Look Dont Touch (7/1) needed to be switched to the outer on the run-in and ultimately went down by a length-and-a-half. The front pair went seven lengths clear of Gali Flight (11/2) in third, while Some Dove (9/4fav) finished a disappointing sixth under Rachael Blackmore. "He won his point-to-point first-time and I'm delighted for his owner Mary O'Sullivan (from Rathmore) who bred him," McCarthy said. "It has been a long road with him and he broke their hearts enough times but thank God he got rewarded today. "He's a gorgeous horse and will be kept on the go for the summer. He is a born chaser." STEWARDS REPORTS * The Raceday Stewards reviewed an incident in the closing stages involving Clounts Pride, ridden by G.B. Noonan, placed first, and Look Dont Touch, ridden by P.J. O'Hanlon, placed second, where it appeared Look Dont Touch had to switch off his racing line as a result of Clounts Pride running about while in front. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the matter, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that no further action was warranted. * P.J. O'Hanlon, rider of Look Dont Touch, trained by Dermot Anthony McLoughlin, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was hampered from the back of the last. * K.M. Donoghue, rider of Steppenwolf (FR), trained by Gavin Cromwell, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount lost his action before being pulled up. * A. McCurtin, rider of It'sallabouteve, trained by Brendan Maurice Walsh, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount made a bad mistake at the third last fence. * The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Steppenwolf (FR), trained by Gavin Cromwell, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be lame on its right fore and near hind. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
