Emotional Moment for Taaffe and Casey

TOM TAAFFE’S Emotional Moment produced a smooth performance to land the Horse and Jockey Beginners ’Chase at Thurles yesterday. Clearly benefitting from his first run of the campaign at Punchestown, the six-year-old proved far too good for this opposition.

Always near the front, David Casey pushed him ahead going to the second last. The well-backed Joueur D’Estruval, 5-2 from 3-1, tried to close, but was some two and a half lengths down, and well held, when falling at the final fence.

“I am very happy with that, he jumped well”, remarked Taaffe. “He’s not as sharp as he was over two miles. The plan now is to go for a Grade Two, over two and a half, at Limerick at Christmas and then to step him up in class and distance after that.”