A Plus Tard and Rachael Blackmore take a fence with eventual runner-up Duc Des Genievres (grey)© Photo Healy Racing
Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore completed a 74/1 Naas double when A Plus Tard (5s into 4s) came out on top in the Kildare Now Beginners Chase.
De Bromhead and Blackmore's first winner Embrun Mitja consigned a Willie Mullins and Paul Townend horse, Fact The Facts, to the runner-up position in race one, and it was more of the same in the 1.35 event.
For Mullins and Townend Duc Des Genievres (evens) seemed to be fighting a losing battle when not too smart at the last, and A Plus Tard stayed on well up the run-in to prevail by three and a quarter lengths.
It was three parts of a length then back to Ministerforsport in third.
It's now 67 plays 69 between Blackmore and Townend in the race to be champion jockey for the 2018/19 season.
“He did it really nicely. He jumped brilliant, Rachael said his jumping was excellent and he looked really good throughout and he seemed to stay on really well up the hill,” said de Bromhead.
“He drifts a little bit right, that's the second time he's done that, but it seems to just be a tendency for him.
“We're delighted to get our first winner for Cheveley Park and fair play to Alex Elliott for sourcing the horse.
“It was a pretty hot beginners chase. There is a nice race in Punchestown, a two-and-a-half mile Grade 2, in mid-January and that would look an obvious choice. We'll get a bit more experience and see from there.”
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Lean Araig trained by Oliver McKiernan which fell in this race was observed to have blood on his nose post race.
(GC & EM)
