Minute gains deserved victory over fences

2009 Coral Cup winner Ninetieth Minute gained a deserved victory over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase for his trainer Tom Taaffe with Andrew Lynch aboard.

The 9yo son of Old Vic was having his third run over fences this afternoon after finishing second behind Shot From The Hip on his chasing debut over the course last month before finishing third behind Gates Of Rome at Naas two weeks ago.

Stepped up in trip to 2m 6f today the David Cox owned gelding disputed the lead for much of the race with Sweet Shock before going on approaching the second last and staying on well from there to record an easy eighteen length win at the odds of 5/4.

The aforementioned Sweet Shock kept going to take second at 9/1 under Barry Cash while market rival to the winner Mackeys Forge at 2/1 finished a disappointing third a further three and a quarter lengths back.

Winning trainer Tom Taaffe said afterwards: "I'm delighted with him. It was probably a little bit of a risk running him again fourteen days after Naas and that was probably a good race.

"He jumped and galloped well today and did what you would expect him to do."