Fresh from saddling a first and second from his two runners at Dromahane 24 hours earlier, Declan Queally was back in the winner’s enclosure on home turf when he sent out Lord Schnitzel to claim the Gaultier Hunters Chase at Tramore on Monday evening.
Racing in mid-division as the grey Tohellortoconnaucht took the seven-strong field along at a steady gallop, Tipperary rider Adam Ryan was not happy with the pace that was being set as he took his keen-running mount Cloudy Mountain to the front with two circuits remaining.
Liam Burke’s recent Ballyknock maiden winner soon raced some six lengths clear in what was a notable increase in tempo.
However, by the end of the back straight on the final circuit the five-year-old had each of his six rivals in close pursuit and she ultimately fell two-out having been challenged at the time.
That left the strong-travelling and odds-on favourite Lord Schnitzel in front under Jack Hendrick, and from that point the Klaus Koentopp-owned ten-year-old to return two- and three-quarter lengths clear of the Cork Hunter Chase winner Lar’s Lass, who came through for to take the runners-up spot.
It was another mare Carrig Wells who completed the placings with Sizing Diamond, the second of the Jim Dreaper-trained runners in the race who was a further three and a quarter lengths back in fourth.
