Pumbaa returns to winning ways

Pumbaa justified strong support when making all for an easy win in the Prior Park Service Station Clonmel Handicap Chase.

The six-runner field were strung out the length of the straight at the end of this 2m3f event as the front-runner galloped on strongly in the testing conditions.

Roger Quinlan’s mount just had Spot Fine for company entering the straight, and the six-year-old stayed on well to account for that rival by four and a quarter lengths. Elegant Statesman was all of 50 lengths back in third.

The winner was available at 7/2 this morning prior to the defection of Swiftmarc (around a 6/1 chance), and he went off a heavily backed 11/10 favourite.

Winning trainer Donal Cummins father (Donal senior) said, “We think a lot of him. He disappointed at Galway but was short of work for it. He was very good today and will go to Limerick over Christmas now."

(TW & AM)