Macs Charm (nearest)© Photo Healy Racing
Caught on the run-in on spare ride Gevrey in the Irish Grand National, Brian Hayes gained some compensation when guiding top-weight Macs Charm (7/1) to victory in the Thebeautybasket.ie Handicap Steeplechase.
Hayes took his time in mid-division on the novice, who wasn't foot perfect on the way around, before moving into contention with three to jump. He joined Street Value and Hoke Colburn on the run to the final fence where the former took a heavy fall. Macs Charm was soon ridden clear of Hoke Colburn and stayed on well to beat the rallying Sir Bob (ran in snatches) by two and quarter lengths with Hoke Colburn another half a length away in third.
Winning trainer Colm Murphy said: “I'm delighted with that. It was a big ask for his first run in a handicap, saying that it's a pity he wasn't in the race before it.
“He didn't actually qualify for it (Irish National) as he hadn't three runs at the time.
“He wants soft ground and he's been fortunate this year to get soft ground at this time of the year. We'll keep him in for Punchestown and see what the weather does.
“Unfortunately you just can't plan for soft ground at this time of the year and he's probably more a Thyestes horse. He's very ground dependent.
“He's been a right horse and that was only his fourth run over fences so it was a fair performance.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
