Mitchouka and Ricky Doyle (nearside)© Photo Healy Racing
After their success with Cedarwood Road at Gowran on Tuesday, Chris Jones and Gearoid O’Loughlin were on the mark again, this time on a bigger stage with Mitchouka (100/30 joint favourite) in the Grade B TRI Equestrian Handicap Chase at Leopardstown.
Fittingly there was a rousing conclusion to the feature event with Mitchouka getting there at the finish to beat his fellow market leader Livelovelaugh by a neck.
The runner-up did much right, jumping well from the front. However he ‘got under’ the final fence and he could have done with the second last being in as well (out due to the low lying sun).
The Jones family have a long association with Leopardstown and this was a sweet success, as it was for Ricky Doyle in the plate. He’s sampled good wins in the past aboard the likes of Well Set Up and Freewheelin Dylan.
O’Loughlin reflected in the aftermath: “It isn’t often you beat the champion trainer twice in one week! (Closutton’s Antey finished 2nd to Cedarwood Road)
“He’s a quirky little horse but I knew he was well and we seem to have found the key to him. The secret is not to do too much with him. That was the target.
“We dipped our toe in the Paddy Power over three miles just to see if we could have another option. On soft ground it stretched him but I wouldn’t say he doesn’t stay either on better ground.
“Ricky has been massive and rides him in work. My girlfriend Rebecca rides him every day and she said he was right.
“He could go to Punchestown and the Galway Plate could be a target as well.”
Owing to the low elevation of the sun, the Stewards granted permission for fence #2 to be omitted from this race.
(AM & EM)
