Power Of Pause and Paul Townend near side win the Brandon Hotel Beginners Steeplechase from Genois .© Photo Healy Racing
Power Of Pause showed a really likeable attitude under champion jockey Paul Townend when battling on bravely to register a first success over fences in the Brandon Hotel Beginners Chase at Listowel.
A one-time graded horse over flights, the Willie Mullins trained gelding was off the track for almost two years, prior to returning to action in April. Pulled up on two of his next three starts(including at Galway last time), the eight-year-old showed that the ability was still there when runner-up at Ballinrobe on his penultimate run.
Making his chasing debut this afternoon, the former point-to-point winner made much of the running but looked to be fighting a losing battle when both Gold Bullion and Genois closed up after two out.
The former could find no extra on the run to the final fence but Genois emerged as the most likely winner when drawing level travelling much better at that obstacle. However, a poor jump from the Enda Bolger trained seven-year-old ended his chances, as Power Of Pause kept on in determined fashion to make a winning chasing debut.
Willie Mullins said: “He might have been a bit lucky and Paul took his chance. He met the last a bit better than the second horse and it paid off.
“He didn’t jump well the first circuit but he got better and better.
“He’s a nasty little cut on a hind leg and he’ll be off for three or four weeks with that. I’d say it will need a few stitches and I don’t know what damage is done underneath so we’ll have to see.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
