Front-running tactics proved successful as Kakagh returned to his best under Barry Geraghty in the featured Wilderness Chase at Clonmel.
Available at 11/2 in the morning and backed from 4/1 into 3/1 on track, the Bill Harney-trained gelding was strongly pressed early in the straight by both On The Way Out (5/2) and Prince Of Fire (16/1) with all three virtually in the air together at the second last.
However Kakagh, successful in a Naas novice chase 12 months ago before losing his way a bit last season, dug deep for Geraghty on the run-in to beat Prince Of Fire by three quarters of a length with On The Way Out a further two lengths back in third. Knockfierna the 9/4 favourite, was unable to find any extra in the straight and finished sixth.
Harney said, “I told Barry just to get a lead over the first and do what he liked after that. He really came alive when he was challenged.”
The Templemore trainer is unsure of where to go next but when prompted about a possible return here in two weeks for the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase, he quipped, “I've another one in mind for that!”
