Chirac collects in style for Feane Chirac was nicely on top in the closing stages as he opened his account in good style in the three-year-old handicap at Gowran Park. The John Feane-trained colt was a promising fourth over five furlongs on at Naas last month and went to post a well-backed 9/4 favourite back up at seven furlongs tonight. He was held up by Ronan Whelan before coming to lead in the centre over a furlong from home. The son of Acclamation was soon asked to go and win his race and Whelan could afford to ease up late on as he recorded a two-and-three-quarter length margin over Imnotleavinyou. "It was trainer-error dropping him to five furlongs the last day and the step up to seven helped him,” said Feane. "He was standing in the stalls for a while today, which was nobody's fault, but it wasn't ideal for a horse having only his second run in a handicap. He is quite laid-back and fell asleep a bit but he ran well. "He was down in that 0-60 grade so was entitled to do that and he is a nice enough horse. “He will be fine on faster ground and can step up another furlong in trip as he wasn't stopping at the line. He is a grand horse."
