16 and counting for The Fonze The phrase “a great servant to connections” could have been created for The Fonze who recorded his 16th career victory in the featured Limerick Junction Chase. The gallant ten-year-old gelding took over in front after Echo Bob made a mistake two out, and the 11/4 favourite soon asserted under Shay Barry to beat Schelm (7/2) by seven lengths. This was a welcome change of fortune for Barry, his first winner since New Years Eve, having missed four months at the end of last year with a fractured pelvis and had another spell on the sidelines with injured ribs after a fall at Ballinrobe in April. Bobs Pride (lame) was absent, while Cuan Na Grai (burst blood vessel) was pulled up around halfway. Winning trainer Eoin Doyle said: “He gave an exhibition of jumping and was very long at the fourth last. He was like a two-year-old down in the yard as he kept sweating up and we had to keep taking him out of his box. The Galway Plate is a possibility if he got a reasonable weight. He's a privilege to train as he travels so well and is so enthusiastic.”
