Toner hits the target for Elliott

Gordon Elliott’s Toner D’Oudairies justified favouritism with a game display to land the Grade 3 Imperial Call Chase before a more than satisfactory attendance in excess of 6,000 at Cork yesterday.

He certainly had to dig deep for Davy Condon’s urgings, after defeat was staring him in the face for most of the straight. Noble Prince edged into the lead coming away from the third last and appeared to be holding his rival at the back of the final fence.

But Toner D’Oudaires then roared down the stands’ side, under a fine Condon drive, to nail Noble Prince close home and score by half a length.