Trumps Ace on the up and goes back to back at Clonmel Trumps Ace followed up her win at this venue on December 5th, when taking the Jossestown Handicap Chase, the penultimate event on this afternoon’s Clonmel programme. The win 35 days back was over an extended two and a quarter miles and here the daughter of Flemensfirth had no problem dropping back a little in distance. At an extended sixteen furlongs on this occasion, and off a seven pound higher mark, the successful eight-year-old prevailed, again with Ryan Treacy in the plate. For owner/breeder Jim Monaghan, and trainer Tim Doyle, Trumps Ace was settled behind the leaders, and she made a mistake at the third. Fifth at the halfway stage, the County Tipperary runner made progress into second after three out. Soon challenging, Trumps Ace disputed before two out, and she soon led. Ridden clear before the last, the winner kept on well to account for fellow joint 4/1 second favourite, Bridge Native, by seven and a half lengths. "It is great to follow her win up and she did similar to the last day. It was a better class race today and she is improving. Earlier in her career I thought she wanted further but she appears to be plenty quick enough for that and Ryan (Treacy) seemed to think 2m2f is her trip," said Doyle. "Chasing is her game, she was a bit slow to jump over hurdles and is from a real chasing family. "She has a great attitude and we'll look for something similar again next." (TW & EM)
