Goose Man and Pat Taaffe © Photo Healy Racing
Jumping proved key in the Bluegrass Horse Feeds Chase at Down Royal and it was Goose Man who was best in the marathon contest. Tout Est Permis was sent to post an even-money shot in the three-mile-two contest but crashed out six from home after a few errors.
4/1 shot Monbeg Notorious had been very slow early on at some of his jumps and dropped to the rear before halfway.
It was the Tom Taaffe-trained Goose Man who claimed the spoils under the trainer's son Pat.
He was held up in the early stages before being produced to take a narrow lead three from home.
The Gold Well gelding, 2/1 second choice in the market, looked set for a cosy victory over the last but had to get to work in the closing stages to hold the renewed challenge of long-time leader Dorking Cock by a length-and-a-quarter.
Taaffe senior said: "That's very good for the Hays (owners). This fellow was in at Cheltenham yesterday but I said 'he'll be placed in Cheltenham but he'll win here'.
"The other horse is rated 151 (Tout Est Permis) but I didn't worry about his rating the way he had been running. We were on 135 but I still believe he is on the way up and we took the 7lb off.
"I'm delighted for Pat - it is his first ride over fences. He has done loads of hunter trials and loads of schooling. It is good that he has that monkey off his back.
"He's not really in anything as it is too close to the Irish National. I didn't enter him for that reason as it was just going to be too close from St Patrick's Day.
"He's not in at Aintree but he will be in Aintree next year, he's that type of horse.
"I think that is only his 16th run. We were happy with today."
(Quotes by Michael Graham)
