Ballyoisin© Photo Healy Racing
On his day, Ballyoisin (9/2) is a formidable front-running chaser and he was brilliant as he gained his second successive win in the Tote.com Fortria Chase (Grade 2).
He jumped exuberantly as usual, and sealed victory with a fast, fluent leap at the last before beating the keeping-on A Plus Tard (5/4 fav) by two and three quarter lengths. Hardline travelled well to two out before tiring, while Arkle winner Duc Des Genievres emptied from the third last.
The winner, still only eight, was recording his eighth win from fifteen starts over fences and, although holding a race fitness edge over the other principals, impressed with the speed and accuracy of his jumping.
“When he sees a fence, he attacks it and just goes”, said the winning rider Mark Walsh.
“That was nice. We thought we had fitness on our side but I was just a bit scared that the ground might be a bit too heavy for him,” said winning trainer Enda Bolger.
“He bossed it all the way and his jumping again is his forte.
“I don't know where we're going to go next with him. We went on to Leopardstown last year and it didn't work out.
“He may be just put away for the spring. We'll see what the boss and Frank say.
“A place like here is up his alley with the line of fences down the back. I thought Leopardstown would really suit him, with the good ground, but it didn't go his way last year.
“They are good horses in behind him there today and he had 11-10 as well. It was a good performance all around.
“He got a lovely ride from the front as well. Mark rode him to go his own pace and he still had his ears pricked coming to the second last.
“Even though a lot of races have been over two miles he gets two-and-a-half as well and you have to around here.
“The older he's getting he's handling that ground better.”
Paddy Power put Ballyoisin in at 20/1 for the 2020 Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
