Image © Healy Racing
Lifetime Ambition may not be eligible to take in a trip to Aintree for the Foxhunters, but the Jack Tyner Memorial Hunter Chase was nice compensation for connections as he gained his fourth success of the season.
Lifetime Ambition may not be eligible to take in a trip to Aintree for the Foxhunters, but the Jack Tyner Memorial Hunter Chase was nice compensation for connections as he gained his fourth success of the season.
Since joining the Pat Doyle stable, the nine-year-old has been a tough nut to crack in the open division, winning at Ballycrystal, Quakerstown and Bellharbour before an uncharacteristic early mishap at Lisronagh last time.
Travelling and jumping with his customary zest, the Kapgarde gelding was again the mount of his regular rider Susie Doyle, and she sent him on approaching the home bend.
Whilst Derek O’Connor began to loom large in the background aboard the patiently-ridden Early Doors, their effort flattened out in the straight, and ultimately, he could get no closer than third.
It was Break The Boundary, the recent Tyrella maiden winner, who got closest to the favourite on his stable debut for the Philip Rothwell team, but he was still a class below the former Grade 3 winner who cruised to an 11-length success.
Break The Boundary, in turn, was fifth lengths clear, with Nice To Meet claiming the fourth spot.
“He is deadly, he was brave at times, but as Dad says you just have to brave with him,” Doyle said.
“We’re so lucky to have him, he has given me some great spins this season. He is great, he knows what he is doing , you just have to stay between his mane and tail.
“I have had a good season point-to-pointing; I’ve been hitting the crossbar a bit of late; I had a good start to the season, so hopefully, I can have a few more.
“Unfortunately, we can’t go to Aintree as he is overqualified, so hopefully, he will get there next year.”
