Journey With Me (left) and Rachael Blackmore beating Limerick Lace© Photo Healy Racing
Journey With Me completed a Grade 3 double at Naas this afternoon for owner Robcour when landing the Bar One Racing ‘Extra Places At Cheltenham’ Directors Plate Novice Chase.
The Mahler gelding, a useful sort over hurdles last season, won his beginners’ chase over this course and distance just before Christmas and was regaining the winning thread having run Impervious to half-a-length at Punchestown last month.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained 8/13 favourite made all and kept on well under Rachael Blackmore on the run-in to beat Limerick Lace by three lengths.
The pair pulled 25 lengths clear of Flanking Maneuver in third.
Stable representative Robbie Power said, “Good performance, it wasn’t ideal having to make his own running. He’s a bit lairy and didn’t jump as well as he can. I think he was doing too much looking around him.
“When the second horse came to him at the second last he picked up well and I think he’s a horse that will stay further.
“He’ll either go to Fairyhouse for the Grade 1 novice over two and a half miles or he could go to Aintree or Punchestown for a three-mile Grade 1. He’s entitled to take his chance in a Grade 1.”
