Tactical Move and Paul Townend clear a fence with the loose Flanking Maneuver© Photo Healy Racing
With second market choice Flanking Maneuver departing at the first it was left for 1/2 chance Tactical Move to beat two rivals in Grade Three Bar One Racing 'Extra Places At Cheltenham' Directors Plate Novice Chase. This he duly achieved at Naas, without overly convincing with his fencing or the manner of his victory.
Following on from earlier successes for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend with Olympic Man and Fun Fun Fun the victorious lightly raced ten-year-old continues to make up for lost time, on this occasion staying on too powerfully in the closing stages for the mare, Jumping Jet Three lengths eventually separated them.
Townend said:- “He's won but he jumped average for him, I was really looking forward to riding him to be honest but I never really got into a rhythm on him. He wanted to go left everywhere.
“Looking at it, it might have looked closer up the straight but I was always comfortable.
“He went to the first and went left for some reason and then never concentrated afterwards but look he's won, and won with mistakes, so it's a good sign.”
P. Townend, rider of Tactical Move, trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount jumped poorly and to the left throughout.
The Raceday Stewards reviewed an incident jumping the first fence involving Flanking Maneuver, ridden by J.W. Kennedy, who fell at this fence and Tactical Move, ridden by P. Townend, placed first, where it appeared that interference may have occurred. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the matter, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that no riding offence had occurred and therefore no further action was warranted.
(GC & EM)
