Some Plan and David Mullins lead Road To Respect © Photo Healy Racing
The Henry De Bromhead trained Some Plan gained a measure of compensation following a fall at Cheltenham in November when landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase at Naas today, under jockey David Mullins.
The son of Winged Love was a narrow leader when falling at the second last in a Grade 2 chase at Cheltenham when previously seen but won today’s lesser race, having led and the third fence and made the rest of the running to beat Road To Respect
The market for the four runner race was dominated by 8/15 favourite and highly regarded American Tom but the ‘jolly’ gradually weakened from the fourth fence and was trailing in last when crashing out at the third last fence. The Willie Mullins trained, Rich Ricci owned gelding and his rider Ruby Walsh were subsequently okay following the fall.
Following Some Plan’s win, jockey Mullins said “my lad travelled well the whole way and while he ran into the first a bit, he’s so accurate and so quick he forgets to get enough height sometimes.
“I definitely thought I had another gear (the last day) and I’d say the winner Le Prezien did as well but I was going every bit as well as him and I’d say I had plenty down the hill.
“That was another day though and he’s done it well today and you can’t fault him and he deserves it. That was a good race, it wasn’t a graded race, but it was a hot race on paper.”
He added “he’ll go on a bit better ground and he’ll be better on it. He’s still a big baby for an old horse and when he does start to learn, and put his best foot forward over fences, he’ll take a fair bit of beating over two miles. When he puts it all together he could be a Cheltenham horse.”
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson
