Beacon Edge (right) gets there late to score under Denis O'Regan© Photo Healy Racing
A lovely patient ride from Denis O’Regan was rewarded with success on Beacon Edge in the Grade One BARONERACING.COM Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse.
A first success at the top level for O’Regan since Ruacana landed the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow in 2013, the Cork native came in for the spin here with Noel Meade’s stable jockey Sean Flanagan out injured.
Beacon Edge (9/2 into 7/2) was off the leading trio, but getting there slowly but surely in the straight.
The final flight mistake cost Gavin Cromwell’s My Mate Mozzie in the previous heat, and the last couple of obstacles were troublesome for the stable’s Gabynako here.
That front-runner got it wrong when he needed good jumps in the closing stages, and Beacon Edge powered to the front late to triumph by a length and a quarter.
Gigginstown House Stud own Beacon Edge, and they also have the third placer, Fury Road who ended up a head back, as they left favourite Lifetime Ambition eleven lengths behind in fourth.
For the Festival Novices’ Chase Paddy Power are 10/1 from 16/1 about Beacon Edge, with Fury Road 20/1 from 33/1.
"Like every one else, I thought we were struggling at halfway and we were looking like we weren't at the races. I don't think Denis could go any quicker but from three out I thought we were getting back into it," said Meade.
"I started shouting at the second last as the two in front went so quick and mightn't keep it up and there was not a lot between him and Fury Road over hurdles. My lad jumped reasonably well but going as quick as that, maybe he was struggling a bit on the ground.
"You'd have to think three miles is his trip and the three-mile race at Leopardstown over Christmas is the obvious next race for him.
"He has a bit of blood on his nose - I've never seem him bleed before but sometimes they can get that from up high (in his nostril) or sometimes it can happen when they hit a fence. It didn't stop him today anyway.
"I feel sorry for Nicky Richards who bought him as a Landrover (Sale) horse and he had to sell him because he couldn't get an owner for him; he called him Beacon Edge because he had a fella who owned the Beacon Hotel who he thought would buy him but still didn't."
D.N. Russell, rider of Grand Paradis (FR) trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a few jumping errors prior to pulling up .
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Lifetime Ambition, trained by Mrs John Harrington, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(TW & EM)
