Spades Are Trumps and Mark Walsh © Photo Healy Racing
The Kieran Kelly Memorial Beginners Steeplechase saw 9/2 chance Spades Are Trumps return to the winners’ enclosure after a long absence.
The 8-year-old by Yeats tracked the leaders and travelled kindly throughout for Mark Walsh before hitting the front between the last two fences.
He wasn’t hard pressed to account for the 11/4 favourite Definite Plan by six lengths.
The winner had plenty of handicap experience to draw on and was getting off the mark on his tenth outing over the larger obstacles.
Feidhlim Cunningham, assistant to in-form winning trainer Gavin Cromwell (fifth winner in the last four days), said: “It’s nearly four years since his only previous win in a maiden hurdle. He’s been a bit frustrating and disappointing.
“Mark said they went strong enough which suited him and he did that well. We thought with a bit of ease in the ground he might win a summer beginners’ chase.
“It’s great to get that win and we’ll see where we go with him over hurdles or fences.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
