Written-off 'fugitive' gains first Irish win

Former 'fugitive' Chestnut Charlie s full and eventful life culminated with a first recognised win, at the ripe old age of 14, in Ireland today, landing the Charlie Lowry Memorial Handicap Chase at Navan today for trainer Peter Maher.

Chestnut Charlie began his colourful career as a promising dual Irish bumper winner in 2007 but later was stripped of those wins following a hearing of the Referrals Committee of the Turf Club.

That Committee heard that Chestnut Charlie had taken part in an unrecognised flapping meeting in 2006, under the name “The Boxer” at a meeting at Boyle, Co Roscommon, and was therefore disqualified from previous and future Irish races.

Chestnut Charlie's inability to initially contest races in Ireland led the talented son of Desert King to race in France where he gained his 'maiden' win in a Listed Hurdle, under Dean Gallagher, at Autueil in 2008.

The gelding eventually returned to race in Ireland in 2010 but failed to win in any of his 22 subsequent races, until today.

Ridden by Robbie Colgan today, Chestnut Charlie belied his years when quickening smartly on the run-in for a seven lengths win over Black Zero

Following the win, Maher, who took over training of the gelding in 2014, stated “I don't know what to say- he's been written off a 100 times!

“We'll look at the cross-country race on the Saturday of Punchestown and he might get a run before that.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson