Acapella Bourgeois produces a fine leap© Photo Healy Racing
A big leap at the last settled matters for Acapella Bourgeois as he produced a fine front-running performance in the Suir Valley Chase at Clonmel today.
The chestnut gelding went to post a 7/4 shot for the extended two-mile-three contest with his trainer Willie Mullins saddling half of the six-runner field.
Paul Townend bounced out in front on his mount and he was tackled by stable-mate Yorkhill (11/8f) turning for home.
Acapella Bourgeois had a length advantage over the second last and went on at the final fence as a better jump gave him the edge over Yorkhill.
The nine-year-old surged clear on the run-in to record an eight-and-a-half length success, his first win since joining Mullins. Polidam completed a clean sweep for the yard, finishing 14 lengths back in third.
"He enjoyed himself and he was jumping out of his skin. We'll look for a similar contest where he can get a chance to enjoy himself,” said Mullins.
"The Imperial Call Chase at Cork could be a plan next - I'd like to keep things easy and I'd probably skip a hot handicap like the Galway Plate in favour of easier races.
"Yorkhill promised to run a race and Ruby thought he'd go and win around the second last but he needed it.
“I'm delighted I ran him because at least we got that far in him. He jumped fairly straight and it was only when he got tired that he came out and he took a huge blow after it.
"Polidam ran a better race than he has for a while and he could go for the Topham."
(Quotes by Tom Weekes)
