Touch Base brings up brace for McManus Touch Base kept finding for Davy Russell as the pair wore down One Cool Poet to take the BBQ Night At Tipperary August 29th Beginners Steeplechase in Tipperary. The 7/2 shot pecked upon landing two out in his pursuit of a hard-at-work Carrigready and One Cool Poet. The latter picked off Carrigready on the run to final fence but Touch Base was staying on all the time on the outer. Touch Base got away from the last well and was driven up to collar One Cool Poet in the closing stages. He won by half a length from the gambled-on runner-up who went off at 7/2 from 11/1 in the morning and 9/2 on opening show. Churchtown Glen, the 11/4 favourite, couldn't land a blow in third. He was beaten four and a quarter lengths by the winner. Racing manager Frank Berry said: “He made heavy weather of it but it’s nice to get a win. He’s been very disappointing and a drop down in class today suited him. “He’s not the easiest and Gordon has done well to get a race out of him. He’ll keep going over the summer.” Touch Base gave owner JP McManus a double on the card as his colours were also carried to victory by Feeling The Love in the opener. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
