PWC Champion Chase |
|
| Grade 2, Gowran Park 16:00 €45,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 4f, Class 1  |
|
| Saturday 30th September 2017 | |
1 A Toi Phil 6/1
2 Balko Des Flos 11/8F
3 Ballycasey 11/2
5 ran Distances: 6½l, 22l, 8l
Time: 5m 7.00s (slow by 21.00s)
A Toi Phil wins for Elliott and Kennedy
 |
A field of five runners went to post for the Grade Two feature in County Kilkenny, with Balko Des Flos the 11-8 favourite to follow up his victory in the Galway Plate.
Kylecrue took them along for the first half of the contest before Davy Russell sent Balko Des Flos to the lead in the back straight.
His move was covered by Gordon Elliott's 6-1 shot A Toi Phil and last year's winner Ballycasey, trained by Willie Mullins, but the latter eventually dropped away to leave a straight shootout between the Gigginstown House Stud-owned pair.
A Toi Phil asserted between the final two fences under Jack Kennedy and after pinging the last, he careered away to score by an emphatic six and a half lengths.
Balko Des Flos was a clear second ahead of Ballycasey in third.
Galway Plate runner-up Shaneshill was a big disappointment, finishing a long way behind and beating only Kylecrue home.
Kennedy said: "He travelled and jumped brilliantly. His jumping is a big help - he's very accurate. He's very tough and stays going. He's done it well."
Elliott's assistant Ian Amond said: "Gordon said he'll probably go to Down Royal next. He has a choice of races there and could go for the two-and-a-half-mile race for second-season novices.
"It's great for Jack to get a nice one like that and he gave him a great ride."
PWC Champion Chase (Grade 2)
€45,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 4f, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Soft to Heavy
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | A Toi Phil (FR) 6/1 | J W Kennedy 11-8 |
G Elliott | 7 | |
| 2nd | 6½ | Balko Des Flos (FR) 11/8f | D N Russell 11-3 |
H de Bromhead | 6 |
| 3rd | 22 | Ballycasey (IRE) 11/2 | P Townend 11-8 |
W P Mullins | 10 |
| 4th | 8 | Shaneshill (IRE) 15/8 | R Walsh 11-3 |
W P Mullins | 8 |
| 5th | 52 | Kylecrue (IRE) 40/1 | D E Mullins 11-3 |
J P Ryan | 10 |
