Mark Nunan
Brouder gets Scheu up in the nick of Time
Scheu Time and Gavin Brouder (pink) win from Bridge Native (green cap) and Dollar Value (left)
© Photo Healy Racing
7lb claimer Gavin Brouder brought through 11/1 chance Scheu Time with a perfectly-timed challenge to claim the Guinness Handicap Chase.
Brouder pushed the Arakan gelding between Bridge Native (7/2) and Dollar Value (22/1) inside the furlong and came home a head in front of the former (on whom Conor Orr received a six day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency) with Dollar Value a further length and a half away in third. The 15/8 favourite Pilbara finished in ninth place.
It was a third career winner, and a first of the season, for the winning rider who was just starting to catch a few eyes before racing came to a halt in March.
It was a first success over fences for three-time hurdle winner Scheu Time.
Winning trainer James Nash said: "That’s great for Gavin (Brouder) as he got a terrible fall here at the festival.
“I had a filly that I was fancying at Navan (Viv Vance, 4th) and then Forza Milan (last of three here in the 4.10) so it’s nice that he’s gone and done that.
“He didn’t jump well early, and then I thought he was going to win going to two out and he missed that too.
“Anyway, that trip around here seems to suit him and he has plenty of options now.
“There’s a graded handicap at Cork in a fortnight’s time worth forty grand that he could go for.”
Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy