Mooncoin trainer Eoin Doyle saddled The Fonze to win the Grade 2 Gowran Park Champion Chase at Gowran today, defeating 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition who was making his seasonal reappearance.
War Of Attrition, whose place in the field added greatly to the €40,000 event, raced in second position under Davy Russell, before briefly moving to the front entering the straight. However, The Fonze, under a fine ride from Shay Barry, took the lead before the second last fence, eventually stretching clear from the last, to record a comfortable four and a half lengths win.
War Of Attrition's jockey Davy Russell was pleased with the former Champion's performance, briefly mentioning “I'm happy with him. He was simply beaten by a quicker horse on the day.”
War Of Attrition's trainer Mouse Morris also added “War Of Attrition showed plenty of spark today but that two and a half miles trip is a little short for him. He'll run next in the Star Chase at Punchestown in a few weeks.”
Winning trainer Doyle later reported “that's The Fonze's tenth career success and my biggest winner. He's always been a great horse for us and I knew there was a big race in him.”
He added “I wasn't sure whether to run or not today because the race conditions were slightly against him but it was a Grade 2 event and we had to take out chance.”
“He jumped and traveled great and provided the ground doesn't become too heavy, we'll try to find him another conditions race again soon.”
