Tharawaat ploughs through the mud to defy top weight

THE Gordon Elliott trained Tharawaat ploughed through a Ballybrit quagmire to defy top-weight in the Dara Cassidy Memorial Handicap Chase in Galway yesterday.

Ground described as ‘heavy’ before racing deteriorated further as the meeting progresses, due to relentless heavy rain, But Davy Russell extended his lead in the Jockeys Championship race thanks to a fine double, highlighted by Tharawaat’s win in the feature event, before riding the ‘wrong one’ of Gigginstown’s runners in the later beginners event

Successful at Down Royal and Navan last season, Tharawaat was having his first outing since being pulled up in a valuable novice handicap at the Punchestown Festival. But he showed no ill effects, jumping soundly close to the pace, before asserting his superiority on the uphill climb from the final fence and having seven lengths to spare over Indifference Curve.