Azorian back on track with chase win

Azorian ended a losing run stretching back 16 months by comfortably landing the odds in the Follow Navan On Facebook Beginners Chase.

The son of Westerner was a highly promising sort a few seasons back and, while Graded race placed on a number of occasions, didn't quite live up to expectations over hurdles.

However the point-to-point winner put in a good round of jumping in this two and a half miles event, and shrugged off the challenge of Big Kern (10/1 in the morning and sent off 7/2) approaching the last.

The 4/6 chance drew clear on the run-in for Bryan Cooper to score by eight lengths, with a yawning gap of 34 lengths further back to Riverside City in third.

Winning trainer Eoin Griffin said, "It's nice to have him back on a winning track.

"He's been a bit frustrating after showing a lot of promise early on. He's had breathing problems and has had a lot of operations.

"He had one before Christmas and that seemed to work. He had a nice first run back at Clonmel and that left him spot on for this.

"I know it wasn't the best race but it's nice to have him back on track. He hasn't many miles on the clock and will handle better ground.

"We mightn't pull up at the end of the season and he could keep going during the summer as long as the ground isn't quick."

(GC & AM)