Image © Healy Racing
Having finished second in the Dennison JCB Maiden Hunter Chase a year earlier, Grageen went one place better 12 months on as he recorded a third career success at Downpatrick on Friday evening.
Having finished second in the Dennison JCB Maiden Hunter Chase a year earlier, Grageen went one place better 12 months on as he recorded a third career success at Downpatrick on Friday evening.
Sent off as a 3/1 shot having finished sixth after being done no favours by loose railing over the banks in the Ladies Cup at the Punchestown Festival, the nine-year-old cruised into contention when looming alongside the long-time leader Western Wishes at the third-last fence.
However with the loose Chiefs Kingdom doing no favours to the principals, Pa King’s mount made a notable blunder which handed the leader the advantage once again.
That was not the end of the drama, however, as the loose horse then carried Western Wishes wide after the last, allowing Grageen to strike the front and it was a lead that he went on to solidify to score by two and a half lengths over the well-backed Western Wishes.
The local Paddy Turley stable, were responsible for the second and third-place horses as Yewtree Hill, on stable debut, finished third.
“He is good tough horse, he just takes a bit of codding along but he comes out at the end,” Pa King reported.
“It was a bit messy with the loose horse. I thought I was going well three-out until the loose horse crossed me, but he did well to get back up.
“Leo’s [Doyle] wife Mary is not well so hopefully that is a nice boost for her.”
