Smashing impressive in Gowran feature

Smashing lived up to his name with the leaps he produced over the closing three fences up the straight as he raced to victory in the featured Morrison BMW Chase at Gowran.

Always to the fore, the 8/11 favourite stamped his authority on proceedings under Jonathan Burke from the second last, racing to an impressive four and a half length success over outsider Followmeuptocarlow

"I'm delighted with that. I thought it was a brilliant ride from Johnny as he's not easy this guy," said winning trainer Henry De Bromhead.

"He jumped super for him and I loved the way he sat on him going around the top after jumping the fourth last.

"He's an exciting horse. I'd day the John Durkan will come too soon and we'll sit back and see with him.

"He'll get an entry for the two mile one at Leopardstown and we'll see what the ground is like. Obviously we have Sizing Granite for that as well. There's also a nice two and a quarter miler at Thurles in January.

"I think he loves that soft ground and we'll get our business done in the winter and then see where we are.

"I knew jumping the first in the Arkle that I had made the wrong choice of race for him."

T. Donohue, trainer of Followmeuptocarlow, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his charge was found to have pulled a shoe on post-race inspection.

(GC & EM)