Racing Clonmel reportPizarro, winner of the 2002 Weatherbys Champion Bumper, made a successful transition to fences when scoring at Clonmel yesterday. Edward O'Grady's charge was sent off as the 4 to 5 favourite in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase and came home five lengths to the good over Atlantic Rhapsody.
Putting in a highly competent round of jumping, Pizarro gave his supporters their only cause for anxiety when having a good look at the last and also by drifting out to his left on the run in. Connections post race weren't unduly worried about this with O'Grady explaining that the Broken Hearted gelding had two schools in preparation for the run and that he was very pleased with his jumping.
Despite his easy success bookmakers Coral left the gelding unchanged at 14 to 1 for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Jockey Barry Geraghty also enjoyed a successful first ride on Pizarro following the retirement of regular partner Norman Williamson. The Drinmore Chase at the end of the month is now the objective.
Only two of the nineteen strong field attracted any market attention in the opener. As is so often the case, the 'ring' provided a good guide as Callow Lake (6 to 1 to 5 to 1) took up the running three out after hurdling well on his debut and Mark Grant's mount already had the measure of the well-supported favourite, Corrib Boy, when that one made a bad mistake two out.
Joe Crowley, trainer of Corrib Boy, quickly bounced back from that reverse when In The Dip took the following maiden hurdle. The son of Shernazar got a particularly well-judged ride from amateur Gareth Power for an easy 3½-length win.
The market also told a story in the 2½-mile maiden hurdle. In this contest Windswept Leader was despatched a strong 15 to 8 favourite (from 5 to 2), but found himself 1½ lengths down at the final hurdle. Here, though, his cause was greatly helped when leader Lord Of The Furze came to grief and Paul Nolan's charge was left to saunter to an 11-length victory. The winner is a strapping individual and is naturally seen as a real chasing prospect by his trainer.
Having his first start for trainer Michael Hourigan Smart Design was put in short for the handicap chase. Despite going off an easy to back 7 to 2 shot, Paul Carberry elected to go straight to the front and the combination were never headed on the way to an easy four-length success.
Carberry was on the well-punted Lotomore Lad in the last, but after arriving on the scene travelling well entering the straight, he couldn't raise his effort. It was left to Coccinelle under Martin Mooney for trainer, Michael Cunningham to streak away for a six-length win.
