Champagne Gold off the mark over fences There was a good finish to the MSK Silversands Ltd Beginners Chase with Champagne Gold, in the Minella Indo colours and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, just thwarting the always prominent Everglow. The Presenting gelding, a more than useful hurdler despite being unable to add to a maiden win achieved at this venue, had a couple of spins over fences last term and put that experience to good use. He was ridden along in fourth on the approach to the straight but picked up well to join Everglow between the final two fences and he gained a narrow lead on the run-in. There was a neck in it at the line with a further three and three quarter lengths back to the winner's stablemate True Faith in third. Winning trainer Henry de Bromhead said: "I'm delighted with that and he jumped really well. He just got a bit lost when we set off chasing with him last autumn. He seemed to really enjoy himself today and I'm delighted for the Maloneys. Rachael gave him a super ride. "I've no plan for him, we will enjoy today and see. There is a couple of nice novices coming up. There is a race at Galway over two mile two but it might be a bit sharp for him, we will see. There are a couple of winners' chases around that he could go for." Quotes from Donal Murphy
