Image © Healy Racing
Ta Se Rua sprung a 33/1 surprise as he came out on top in a bunched finished to the Gaultier Hunter Chase at Tramore on Monday evening.
Ta Se Rua sprung a 33/1 surprise as he came out on top in a bunched finished to the Gaultier Hunter Chase at Tramore on Monday evening.
Left in front by the departure of Kap D’Ange at the second fence, Pat Healy’s 12-year-old veteran, made much of the running from that point.
Taken on by the favourite Gale Force Jet at the fifth-last fence with a circuit to go, Andy Burke-Ott brought him back alongside Sean Doyle’s charge at the back straight, and although having to fend off a wall of challengers in the home straight, Ta Se Rua was able to cling on by three quarters of a length from Philip Rothwell’s staying-on Long Road.
The victory was a first under rules in over 22 years for the Ballyspillane trainer Pat Healy, whose last success inside the rails had come with Ebony Flyer in September 2002, whilst for the winning rider, it capped off a notable 24 hours for his family, with younger brother Luke teaming up with his father Alex to win a mares’ maiden at Stradbally on the previous afternoon.
“I was delighted to get the ride on him, Cal Shine rode him the last day but unfortunately he broke his collarbone, so thanks to Cal for giving me his number and getting me on the horse too,” Burke Ott said.
“Pat told me to bounce out and make use of him, I was just taken on a little early, so I was happy to let the Doyle’s horse [Gale Force Jet] go, but took it up again along the back and I got a serious spin off him.
“He nearly ran away with me to the start, he is still enjoying it. I probably went a little quicker than I should have with the loose horse with me, but I was comfortable everywhere and I was just happy to let the Doyle’s horse lead where he did and then to just take it up coming down the hill.”
