Night And Day and Daryl Jacob© Photo Healy Racing
Fog caused Naas' delayed opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase to effectively be run in the dark today and, somewhat appropriately, was won by Night And Day with the remaining races being abandoned.
The Grade 1 fixture muddled through morning inspections and while fog had lifted marginally at noon, soon reappeared although the opening race was allowed begin 12 minutes late.
With no tracker-camera in operation, the only views were provided by two home-straight cameras with Brandy Love (1/4f) being the leader entering the home straight. After jumping the final fence, she had been passed by Night And Day (9/1), under Daryl Jacob, who went on to score by 10 lengths.
Both Night And Day and runner-up Brandy Love are trained by trainer Willie Mullins with the winner carrying the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
News of the abandonment came shortly afterwards, with winning jockey Jacob reporting “there was a small amount of visibility but the fog was thinner nearer the enclosure than it was down the back straight. We could see for 150 yards but not any range above that. For periods of the race, your visibility was narrowed.
“We were four experienced riders (in the race) and asked the clerk of the course and the stewards to come down. Like everyone else we wanted the meeting to go ahead so between all of us, decided to have a go. However when we went into the back straight the fog was thicker and it became hard to see.”
The UK-based rider added “I have to admit I had to say to Jack (Kennedy, on Jumping Jet about how many fences we had left to jump as it was very difficult to get my bearings. We rode very cautiously though.”
Regarding the winner's performance, Jacob added “she settled and jumped well and got into the race nicely. I just got her to relax and breath properly before getting her into the race.
“Brandy Love was in front and I took it up from the second last going to the last. She galloped right through the line.”
Speeds varied from 24mph to 32mph in the 2m4f race.
Quotes from Alan Magee
