Michael Graham
Cossack Chach stays well on jumping debut
Cossack Chach, near side, challenges Show No Fear over the final flight
© Photo Healy Racing
Joseph O'Brien's Cossack Chach collared front-running Show No Fear on the run-in of the three-year-old maiden hurdle in Killarney to win going away.
Danny Mullins gave Show No Fear a strong ride off the front and the pair were still boxing on after three out in this 2m1f assignment.
Cossack Chach jumped the next in fourth and was soon ridden by JJ Slevin to make eye-catching headway to challenge at the last. The Churchill gelding touched down in the lead and bounded right away to score by four lengths at 4/1.
Show No Fear was gambled on from 11/1 to 11/2, but had no answers once headed and had to settle for the runner-up berth. Kyogo (5/1) was three-parts of a length back in third.
Cossack Chach had finished rear of mid-division in a Curragh maiden on the Flat at the end of June.
Assistant trainer Brendan Powell said: “From day one he’s jumped very well and, if anything today, JJ said he’s jumped a bit big.
“He’s had one run on the Flat to give him a sharpener. He’s never been the quickest at home, but he’s very honest. He stays well and can only improve.
“JJ said he just got tapped for toe, but he knew going to the last that he’d win. He’d his ears pricked and he galloped away.
“I think Sam (McCauley, owner) wanted a jumper, he has mostly Flat horses, but he could also be a nice mile and a half plus horse next year.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee