Runcok opens his chasing account despite late scare The Willie Mullins trained Runcok recorded a first win over fences when making all under Paul Townend to land the opening Tipperary Races Beginners Chase. A faller three out when set to make a winning debut over the larger obstacles at Roscommon last month, the 5/4f gave supporters a scare before landing those odds. Sent straight to the front by Townend, the gelding jumped well in the main and looked to have the race in safekeeping when clear on the approach to the last fence. However, having been less than fluent at that latter obstacle, the five-year-old had to battle on the run-in to hold Jet Setting Jim by one-and-a-quarter lengths. Paul Townend, successful on what was his only ride on the card, said: “He has a brilliant jump in him, when he meets it right, and at least now he knows where his feet are when he is having to sort himself out. “That’s probably what happened in Roscommon where he had winged everything, and when he had to sort himself out, he forgot. He remembered the fall, but he learned from it as he was able to find his feet today. “He likes being let jump and gallop, and fences will bring him up the step he needs to. He’s never been a strong finisher, but fences will bring him further than he has been able to go.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
