Bois De Clamart scores for Doyle & Deegan

Outsider of the field Bois De Clamart (18/1) won Gowran's Ashgrove Stables Handicap Chase today, scoring in first-time blinkers for trainer Liz Doyle and jockey Richie Deegan.

In a race sponsored by trainer Eoin Doyle's Ashgrove Stables, Bois De Clamart was disputing the lead with Fan De Blues and Rebel Gold when the latter fell at the third-last. Bois De Clamart stayed on well on the run-in to beat Fan De Blues by four lengths.

Doyle later said “he had a terrible run in Galway a month ago and I have no explanation for it, he must just have been wrong. I did an onboard scope with him since and it didn't show anything so I said right we'll go back to the races.

“We threw the kitchen sink at him today and I think the blinkers have transformed him.”

She added ”he has to have light at his jumps and he gave him a beautiful ride. It's never any harm going wide around Gowran, it all suited with the small field - plenty of light and blinkers.

“He's a 130ish horse over hurdles and he's a big lump of a thing. I haven't had a clear run with him over fences and his jumping went to pot last year, he was splitting fences.

“He's been jumping a lot better at home and on his last two runs. Whatever was niggling at him last year seems to have cleared up. He definitely has a engine and it's nice to be able to put it together for a pot like this.

“A bit of soft ground would be important to him but wherever he goes next he'll definitely have blinkers on him.”

Quotes from Gary Carson