Chanceawetmorning continues to progress for Elliott
Chanceawetmorning and Jack Kennedy win the Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Steeplechase (Grade 3) at Punchestown. Pic: Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott was rewarded for a last-minute change of heart as Chanceawetmorning coasted to a second victory over fences in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Chase at Punchestown.
The Grade Three contest was not originally on the six-year-old gelding’s radar but the Cullentra House handler gave in to a late throw of the dice when seeing the race cut up to just four entries.
“I only stuck him in the race at 11.50 the other morning when I saw the very small entry,” said Elliott. “I thought the trip was a bit short for him but he was very tough. He wants further so I was very worried about the (two-miles-two-furlongs) trip.”
Elliott had few worries in the race itself with Chanceawetmorning taking his time to get into the contest as favourite Bunting and Paul Townend took the field along but gathered in the leaders entering the straight.
Hitting the front two out the gelding stayed on well to land the contest by 13 lengths from Sir Allen who benefitted from Bunting’s last fence blunder which gave Townend no chance of staying on board.
“Jack (Kennedy) said early he skidded into the first fence and lost his confidence a bit but he stayed going very well,” added Elliott. “He probably wouldn’t want real winter ground but we’ll see what happens. He’s after winning four or five races for us this summer so it’s great.”
Gorgeous Tom continued Henry de Bromhead’s fine recent run when running away with the Grade Three Matchbook Betting Exchange Chase, winning nudged out by Darragh O’Keefe by 22 lengths from Croke Park.
De Bromhead and O’Keefe were on target in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Mares Handicap Hurdle earlier on the card with The Dotski (evens favourite), continuing a fine run of five winners since Saturday.
Gorgeous Tom (4-6 favourite) was a 20-1 shot when encountering no luck in running in the Grand National at Aintree last April, hampered not once but twice before finishing 12th, beaten 42 lengths.
But the eight-year-old encountered had little trouble this time, always in control of the pace, he pulled readily clear on the run in to win a fifth race of his career.
“He was brilliant and Darragh was brilliant on him. We felt it would be good to try one of these conditions races after running in those big handicaps and it was lovely he went and did it,” said De Bromhead.
“We’ll see (about targets), we’ve a few ideas. There’s the Hennessy (Coral Gold Cup), which he was fourth in last year after kind of missing the start and being on the back foot, or I think we should maybe think about the Savills or something like that as he was so good there.”
Gavin Cromwell was also in double form with Lunar Stride (5-2) winning the opener, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Academy Hurdle under Kevin Sexton and Fiveandahalf (6-5 favourite) following up in the Matchbook #50,000 Graduation Series Maiden Hurdle 35 minutes later under Keith Donoghue.
