Sizing Coal and Jonathan Burke (far side) jump the last alongside Once Cool Shabra© Photo Healy Racing
The Jim Dreaper trained Sizing Coal landed a dramatic Prancer and Dancer Rated Novice Chase at Navan today, scoring for owners Ann and Alan Potts and under their retained jockey Jonathan Burke. Draycott Place and Ryan Treacy lead the field, seemingly travelling well, rounding the final turn for home but, racing on the outer, ran out approaching the third last fence. A measure of how well the gelding was travelling was how long it eventually took Treacy to pull up.
At the final fence, One Cool Shabra was disputing the lead but a mistake at that obstacle handed over control of the race to Sizing Coal who eventually recorded a three lengths win.
Afterwards Dreaper stated “it was very good for a first round of jumping in that he was able to fiddle a few down the back.
“Things didn't go the way of John Ryan (trainer of Draycott Place) today but they went right for us, and that's racing.”
By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee
