Cromwell trains first winner for leading owners Robcour Arkle Chase runner-up Only By Night (4/1) credited Gold Cup-winning trainer Gavin Cromwell with a first success for leading owners Robcour at Naas today, when narrowly landing the Grade 3 Barberstown Castle Chase. Held up fourth of five runners under Keith Donoghue, the seven-year-old improved to challenge at the second-last and while ‘kidded’ into contention, won despite idling and with her ears flicking by just a short-head from Champ Kiely . Only By Night, narrowly beaten by Jango Baie in Cheltenham’s Arkle, was debuting for Robcour having switched from Colin Russell, and Cromwell commented “I’m delighted as I’ve been wanting to have a horse for Brian (Acheson, of Robcour) for a long time and it’s a nice start. She’s a good mare. “She is genuine, brilliant to jump but won’t go and win by two or three (lengths), although we got the result. “The first day we ran her over two miles over fences, we thought it was going to be way too sharp for her but she’s jumped so quick that she’s been effective at two miles. Two-and-a-half won’t be a problem to her.” He added “there is a great programme for mares in novice company but it’s just not as good for mares-opens. I think the next race is the Chich Fowler race in January. Ultimately the Mares Chase in Cheltenham is the plan ” Quotes from Gary Carson
