Lake Chad resumes winning ways in Tramore

The well-backed Lake Chad put clear daylight between himself and runner-up Natural Breeze in the 2m6f handicap chase at Tramore.

The nine-year-old grey gelding was punted from 12/1 to 15/2 and the support proved inspired.

He tanked in second under Sean O'Keeffe behind Natural Breeze and Simon Torrens, and travelled notably better than the leader on the downhill run with three furlongs to go.

The leader was gathered in off the bend before two out and Lake Chad asserted up and over it. He powered clear before the last and cruised in by 13 lengths at 15/2 from Natural Breeze (8/1). Smitty Bacall completed the placings in third at 20/1.

Fenton said: "He is better around here than anywhere else. He has won here before and has always run a good race here.

"He ran terrible the last day and I don't know why he ran so poor. The ground was soft in Roscommon that day. It was a big improvement today. After finishing second at Clonmel, he had a couple of middling runs.

"He is in at Killarney on Thursday in another handicap chase so, who knows, if he comes out of this alright he could run."

Lake Chad's last win came in a beginners' chase at Tramore in June 2022.

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy