Chute records deserved success After being placed on five of his six racecourse starts, Chute Hall finally got off the mark, as he took the M.D.O´Shea Maiden Hurdle for Tom Cooper. The six-year-old son of Milan won his sole point-to-point start at Belclare in March of last year, but he had been ultimately disappointing on the racecourse proper before today. Having opened at 5/2 on-course, he came in for market support, and went off the 2/1 favourite, as the early morning 'jolly', Like It A Lot, drifted out to 9/4, having opened on-course at 2/1. Wearing a visor for the first time, the victorious bay raced in third under Robbie Power, and he was ridden along as they raced around the bottom bend for the final time. He was disputing second on the approach to two out when he was squeezed for room by Zuccotti Park, and he was soon switched to the outside. He still had a few lengths to find on Mollyanna approaching the last, but he dug deep in the closing stages, and grinded out the win, scoring by three parts of a length at the line. Mollyanna (22/1) ran a fine race in second, under Eddie O'Connell for Colin Bowe, while Zuccotti Park was a further eleven lengths back in third at 14/1 under Ger Fox for Tony Mullins. Tom Cooper said afterwards: "He has been knocking on the door and he deserved it. "He has had a lot of problems since Christmas and I hope he will make a proper three mile chaser. He is finished for the summer now." The winning Two's Company Syndicate are made up of Kerry men Dick Chute, and Punchestown manager Dick O'Sullivan. After the race the Stewards found Ger Fox guilty of improper riding aboard Zuccotti Park (squeezed the winner for room after two out), and suspended him for five days. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
