Joyeux finally gets off the mark The father and son team of Philip and Luke Dempsey combined for their third win since Saturday, as Coeur Joyeux finally got off the mark in the Frank O'Beirne Memorial Beginners Chase. Having filled the runner-up spot nine times from his previous seventeen starts, the son of Beneficial certainly wasn't winning out of turn this afternoon. Sent off the 11/10 favourite, the JP McManus owned eight-year-old made all. He increased his advantage on the run to the last, and went further clear on the run-in, going on to score by nineteen lengths. Class Honours finished second under Andrew Lynch for Matthew Smith at 25/1, while Robin Des Mana was a short head away in third. Philip Dempsey said afterwards: "He'd plenty of good runs for Sandra (Hughes), and hopefully that win will give him a bit of confidence. "We are delighted to have him but if he couldn't win today we'd be in real trouble with him. He jumped great today, he always jumps well. He jumps a fence probably better than a hurdle. He seemed to handle that ground well. "He'll probably stick to chasing now but I’ll see what Frank (Berry, owner JP McManus' racing manager) thinks." STEWARDS REPORT The Stewards enquired into possible interference close to the winning post involving Robin Des Mana, ridden by D.N. Russell, placed third and Class Honours, ridden by A.E. Lynch, placed second, where it appeared that both horses came close together. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judges placings' and took no further action. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
