Polished Steel and Robbie Power (right) survived this error before winning the Rockshore Novice Chase © Photo Healy Racing
In a race where several of his rivals were let down by their jumping, Polished Steel 9/2) jumped well in the main when making all the running in the Rockshore Novice Chase (Grade 3).
The Jeremy gelding, trained by Jessica Harrington, had won in good style on his chasing debut at Tipperary and here, despite reaching for the second-last fence, he turned for home travelling well and went away to beat the staying-on outsider My Manekineko by 9 lengths.
The third home Dime A Dozen blundered early in the contest and the 11/8 favourite Russian Diamond was a faller at halfway, with David Mullins (dead leg) stood down for the remainder of the card.
“He was very good. There was a long conversation in the yard this morning about whether to run or not on the ground,” said winning rider Robbie Power.
“He's a much better horse on good ground but it didn't look the strongest Grade 3 contest. It looked a good opportunity for him so we decided to take a chance.
“If he didn't handle it I would have looked after him. He's grown up and is a stronger horse now than he was. He wouldn't want it any softer than that but got away with it today.
“It's just a bit tacky on the chase track and I was trying to find the best of it on the way around.
“His jumping is his main attribute, he's a fantastic leaper. Even at the second last we were rolling down the hill, and I was longer than I ideally wanted to be, but we had to keep the revs up and he came up.
“He was never going to lie down on me, he's a fighter.
“On that ground over hurdles he wouldn't have got home but in saying that he is a stronger horse. The way he jumps a fence it has to be a major asset to him.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
