I A Connect forges home for Monaghan I A Connect justified 3/1 favouritism in the BAR 1 Betting Handicap Steeplechase over an extended two-and-a-half-miles at Down Royal. Ian Donoghue's charge poured it on between the final two fences and kept on well in the closing stages to post a decisive four-and-a-half-length success for owner Brian Quail. Another Challenge (12/1) took the runner-up berth and was five and a-half lengths in front of Tell Nobody Nothin at 10/3. Jockey Caragh Monaghan said: "He jumped for fun really and did it well. We actually didn't school him that much, only really over hurdles. He was deadly. "He travelled away. I thought we were going a little bit quick down the back and I didn't want to give him too much of a breather because of the way they quicken up down the hill down here. He actually finished out quite well and he did it well in the end. "I think so (last couple of runs over hurdles gave him confidence) - we got him there towards the end of the summer and we just kind of sweetened him up a little bit. "We were not overly hard on him either, he's an older horse. I rode him in Navan and Fairyhouse, and we tried this new tactic of jumping off wide, give him a lot of air and it worked out grand. A good third in two good races, so we were hopeful enough coming here today. Thankfully, it worked out. "They are flying, the yard is in great form." This was I A Connect's third run for Donoghue after switching from Evanna McCutcheon's stable. He availed of a lower chase mark in relation to his hurdle rating.
