Toner D'Oudairies, right, has a battle with Noble Prince© Photo Healy Racing
The featured Grade 3 Imperial Call Chase got the race it deserved as Toner D’Oudairies got the verdict after a tremendous battle with Noble Prince
Outsider Carrigeen Lechuga led the six-runner field and jumped well. As the petrol started to dwindle at the business end of this three mile contest she pecked on landing after jumping the third last and gave away the initiative.
Noble Prince picked up the baton and headed for home. He soon faced a challenge from Toner D’Oudairies. After the last it appeared that Noble Prince was going to get his head in front, but Toner D’Oudairies rallied track-width apart on the stands-side rail and got up for a half-length win to justify 9/10 favouritism for Gordon Elliott.
Delighted jockey Davy Condon said: “Gordon was in two minds whether he would get the trip, but the drying ground helped. He struggled a bit on heavy and he jumped a bit left today which was unusual for him. That’s why he ended up on the stands-side rail.
“I thought he had thrown it away, but in fairness to him he has plenty of guts and that’s what won it for him.”
This was Toner D’Oudairies’s 10th career victory. Since April last year he has clocked up seven of those wins.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
