Cool Colonnade makes smooth transition to fences

Cool Colonnade made a bright start over fences when taking the Appleman’s Beginners Chase at Clonmel.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding, winner of a maiden hurdle at Sligo last summer, was well-supported on track from 5/2 into 2/1 favourite at the off.

The five-year-old gelding asserted approaching two out, and kept on well under Paul Townend to beat From Eden by three lengths, with Cotton Jenny rewarding each-way support a further six lengths away in third.

Mullins’ son and assistant Patrick said, “It looks like he’s a better chaser than a hurdler. He definitely has more respect for fences and he enjoys it. On good ground and summer tracks, he has plenty of scope.

“We’ll look for a novice chase and the boys will get plenty of fun out of him. He’s a half-brother to Lagostovegas, so he could go back on the Flat at some stage as well.”