Patiently-ridden Grangeclare West lands Bobbyjo Chase Paul Townend gave Grangeclare West (7/2) a well-judged and patient steer as the 10-year-old gave Willie Mullins yet another BAR 1 Betting Bobbyjo Steeplechase at Fairyhouse. Last year’s Grand National third raced towards the rear and began to pick off rivals up the home straight. Last to come off the bridle, Townend’s mount had moved into second when getting the last wrong but he only required a hand ride to get past Gerri Colombe on the run-in. Five and a half lengths was the margin of victory for Cheveley Park Stud’s son of Presenting who made it 10 wins in the last 11 renewals of the Grade 3 contest for champion trainer Mullins. “He can get you out of trouble! He got away with it anyway,” said Townend of the error at the last “The last is so far down there that I was anxious not to challenge till we got up to where it normally is, and it probably helped me not winging it and landing upsides Gerri Colombe. “He enjoyed himself, got into a nice rhythm. I thought they went very hard and I was just in my comfort zone everywhere, popping away. “He’s a class animal. The ground was my concern but it’s loose and he handled it as well as any of them.” On the winner being in the mix to ride in the Grand National, he added:- “He has to be, that headache is a bit down the line.” Paddy Power make the winner 12/1 (from 20s) for the Grand National on April 11th. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
