Prendergast fast approaching 2,000 Sam James partnered his second winner of the week at Listowel and his tenth of the season when he guided Cloud Fire to a convincing win in the Charlie Chute Memorial Handicap. James, sporting the familiar Norman Ormiston colours on this occasion, got to the front on Cloud Fire from the well-supported favourite Kokoro two furlongs out and the outcome was soon beyond doubt as the daughter of Refuse To Bend went on to prevail by three and a half lengths. Kevin Prendergast trains Cloud Fire and the success puts the Friarstown legend, born in Australia in 1932, on 1,999 career winners. He started training in 1963. He has trained seven Irish classic winners and in 1977 Nebbiolo, winner of the previous year's Gimcrack Stakes at York, beat Tachypous and The Minstrel with the late Squibbs Curran aboard in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
