Some Man impresses when scoring in Clonmel Hunter Chase

Some Man went off at 6/4 favourite in the Clonmel Hunters Chase and the David Christie-trained gelding justified his position at the top of the market when returning home seven lengths clear of his rivals.

Sporting the colours of bookmaker Ray Nicholas, the seven-year-old was given a patient ride from Wexford-native Rob James and was eased into the lead in the home straight, where he then went on to win comfortably over the 12/1 shot Saint Benedict.

The son of Beat Hollow is a close relation of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman and the gelding had won his four-year-old maiden on debut at Portrush for Donnchadh Doyle back in 2017, before three infrequent trips to the racecourse with Paul Nicholls.

Some Man returned to the point-to-point field this Autumn after he was purchased by owner Ray Nicholas at the Goffs UK Spring Sale in May and bounced back to form when recording a two-and-a-half-length success at Toomebridge in October in the hands of Rob James, when beating Limerick Hunter Chase victor Samurai Cracker.

The seven-year-old made it two from two when scoring on his second outing of the season at Portrush just two weeks later.

“If it had been on normal ground, I thought he'd have done that, but seeing good horses strung out today, I was very worried about it," said winning handler David Christie to Irishracing.com.

"He was very very keen when we got him and I knew if he didn't relax on that ground today, he was going to be gone in a couple of hundred yards when you'd ask for him. Rob said he relaxed and got into a lovely rhythm and for me personally, he is as good as I've had and is a proper horse.

"He had lots of problems when I bought him at a dispersal sale for £5,500 last May.

"He is not a slow horse either and I'll qualify him for Cheltenham. He has to be placed in another hunter chase or win an Open Point to Point so I'll go the easiest possible route I can take."