Clontarf leads Call Vinnie© Photo Healy Racing
Clontarf made a successful debut over fences when claiming the two-mile five-furlong beginners chase at Fairyhouse.
Keith Donoghue has his mount prominent for most of the race and he kicked a few lengths clear turning for home.
5/4 favourite Call Vinnie looked a big threat going to the second last but wasn’t fluent there. He came back on the bridle going to the final fence but was again slightly slow at the last.
Clontarf galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a four-and-three-quarter length victory at odds of 4/1.
“He said he loved jumping fences. I was a bit worried about the ground being a bit tacky as he wouldn’t be in love with it but he said jumping kept him in the game,” said McLoughlin.
“We’ll see what the handicapper does now. We’ll come back here for a race on Saturday week. Jumping is his game.
“We were missing the better horses in that race and he’ll be competitive in that kind of grade.”
