Rome stays on strongly under Codd for Dreaper

Sizing Rome ran out a good winner of the Ingoldsby (Qualified Riders) Handicap Chase, scoring under Jamie Codd for Jim Dreaper.

Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time this afternoon, the son of Milan came in for plenty of market support, opening on-course at 9/2, before going off a 7/2 joint-favourite.

Having raced towards rear in the early stages, the six-year-old victor made steady headway on the final circuit, and was pushed along in fifth on the approach to the straight.

He was ridden and got to the front between the final two fences, keeping on strongly on the run-in to score by nine lengths. Hitdroadjack (6/1) finished second under Barry O'Neill for Henry de Bromhead, while the other joint-favourite, Rolling Revenge was another five and a half lengths back in third.

"That was the plan all along, to come here today on a galloping track over three miles on that kind of ground," said Tom Dreaper, son of the winning trainer and assistant to his father.

"Jamie gets a great tune out of him and we'll keep going as long as the ground is like that.

"The Potts always liked having winners at Punchestown and the family still want to have winners at Punchestown.

"They had a lot of big days here in bigger races than this but it's nice to win another race for them of any description.

"He was well in today in a low grade race and he's going to have to step up a bit the next day. He either will or he won't but I wouldn't be surprised if he has a winters grass ahead of him and he might come back next spring.

"He's a big strong narrow horse. We might look at next spring and try and win something similar again, see if he can pay his way and keep everyone smiling."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson