Smokey makes amends for Limerick fall

Smokey Joe Joe gained compensation for an unlucky reverse last time at Limerick when taking the McCarthy Insurance Group Handicap Chase in impressive fashion at Cork.

The Steve Mahon-trained gelding looked all set to score when falling two out at the Limerick Christmas meeting but made no mistake this time.

Denis O’Regan’s mount was friendless in the market (2/1 in early morning lists and sent off a very generous 9/1) but belied that lack of confidence with a smooth victory.

O’Regan sat quietly as the veteran gelding stretched clear on the run-in to beat Routes Choice by seven and a half lengths. Inch Rise jumped well on his handicap debut over fences but could find no extra after two out to finish a further two and three quarter lengths away in third.

Mahon said, "I saw 7/4 last night and thought it was a price I was half-expecting to see but then he drifted like a barge. But leave him drift all he wants, the horse doesn't know and I backed him twice at 10/1.

"He was awful unlucky in Limerick and Denis said to me he'd definitely have won. I blame myself in some ways for Limerick because I said to Robbie (Dunne) about my horse in the previous race (Balbir Du Matin), 'why didn't you go on on him' when he could have been 20 lengths clear turning in and went down and won. Then he went out (in the next race) and went on on him (Smokey Joe Joe)!

"Today I was full of confidence because I told Denis to land him on the line and Denis is great for that."

(TW & AM)