War Correspondent causes upset in Beginners' Chase Despite pre-race betting suggesting that the race was likely to boil down to a match, it was the lesser fancied War Correspondent that stayed on best to win the Forth Mountain Trails Beginners Chase at Wexford. Runner-up in a Claiming Hurdle at Roscommon last time, the Ray Cody trained grey was sent off 22/1 here on his chasing debut. Ridden by the trainer's nephew Paddy Cody, the gelding loomed up to form a line of three with market principals You Oughta Know (10/11f) and Le Coq Hardi (1/1) on the run to two out. With the latter being the first of the trio to crack, War Correspondent headed You Oughta Know after the last, staying on best to win by three-and-three-quarter lengths. It was a first winner in the professional ranks for jockey Paddy Cody, who commented: "On ratings and previous form over hurdles he had a lot to find, but he has always been a horse with a lot of ability and if the fences sparked him up at all we were hopeful of a good run and they did. "He jumped brilliant for a horse on his first run over fences, he really enjoyed himself today and galloped out strongly. "That's only my third ride since turning professional and it's great to get it. Gary Cribbin is my agent and I'm with Joseph O'Brien five mornings a week and go to Kieran Purcell as well, so I'm trying away. "I'm 19 and rode five winners as an amateur, three on the track and two in point-to-points." Additional reporting by Donal Murphy.
