Stretchemout lands first win under Rules in Beginners' Chase Former point-to-point winner Stretchemout opened her account under Rules when keeping on best under Jack Kennedy to land the Gracie's Bar Beginners Chase at Sligo. Placed just once from seven starts over hurdles, the Gordon Elliott trained mare was well beaten on her fencing debut at Downpatrick last month. Clearly having benefitted from that experience, the 18/1 chance was never far from the pace here, before coming through to lead after two out. Headed by Freemantle Doctor on the approach to the last, the five-year-old battled back well on the run-in, before holding the challenge of Hurricane Honey by a neck. Jack Kennedy said: "The step up in trip suited her. "She was on her head the whole way at Downpatrick but finished out her race well. She jumped the first five or six fences a bit big and up into the air then, and it took her a while to warm into it. "That probably sharpened her up and she was much slicker today. "She's a big mare with plenty of scope, loved the ground here and hopefully there'll be a few more days with her." Additional reporting by Mark Nunan.
