Cross again defies the years

Versatile veteran Fosters Cross proved, again, that he retains plenty of his ability when landing the featured Donal Downes Water Towers Chase in Ballinrobe last night.

The twelve-year-old, successful at Galway last time, was meeting odds-on favourite Special Tiara 16lb. ‘wrong’ on handicap ratings, but got the measure of his front-running rival at the second last fence before asserting and beating the favourite’s novice stable-companion Enjoy Responsibly by two and a half lengths, with Special Tiara eight and a half lengths adrift following a last fence mistake.

Winning trainer Tom Mullins was not present, but Russell acknowledged: “Credit must go to Tom. He’s always been a good horse and was good again today, for his age. The leader jumped a bit left early on and my fellow followed him. Other than that, he was spot-on and won well.”