Scarthy Lad clipped for Arkle after smooth success

SCARTHY LAD, having only his second outing over fences, produced a smashing performance to take the Phil Sweeney Memorial Chase at Thurles yesterday.

He hadn’t been seen since running out a very lucky winner on his debut at Clonmel in November. The seven-year-old was well adrift of Kahuna when that horse fell at the final fence.

“This is all down to physio Sarah McDonald from Tipperary”, said trainer Thomas O’Leary. “He was lame after Clonmel and, indeed, Fergie Sutherland thought he might even have been lame before the race.