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Cloud a fortunate winner of Hunters Chase

Gentle Cloud (farside) takes off at a fence on his way to victory under Johnny BarryGentle Cloud (farside) takes off at a fence on his way to victory under Johnny Barry
© Photo Healy Racing

Gentle Cloud ran out a fortunate winner of the Dan Linehan's Bar And B&B Hunters Chase as Seventh Sign crashed out at the last with the race at his mercy.

The winning ten-year-old son of Cloudings was providing his trainer Padraig Higgins with his first racecourse success.

A winner of his last four point-to-points he was sent off at 10/1 here under Johnny Barry.

Settled in mid-division he improved to take closer order after the fifth last. He was ridden in third after three out and looked set to finish second on the approach to the last only to be left in the lead.

He was ridden out on the run-in as he came home eight and a half lengths in front of the Declan Lavery ridden runner-up Warne (5/2). Mtada Supreme completed the placings a further two lengths back in third under Jamie Codd for Peter Maher at 8/1.

The Adrian Maguire trained Seventh Sign, who was sent off the 11/10 favourite, unfortunately suffered a fatal fall at the last.

Padraig Higgins said afterwards: "He hadn't run since Dungarvan in February but got the virus very bad and then missed a hunters chase at Mallow with a cut leg.

"He missed plenty of work and I didn't think he'd be ready to win today. He'll go to Listowel next for a hunters chase in June.

"That's my first winner - I'm based in Ballynoe, Co Cork and have had my license for six or seven years but have mostly point to pointers."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.