Cons Roc is back with a bang

Con’s Roc bounced back to the promise of his Maiden Hunter Chase victory at Limerick last Christmas, as he ran out a dominant winner of the INHSC Supporting Point-to-Points Hunter Chase in Fairyhouse on Friday.

Absent since being defeated by Rocky’s Howya on his open debut at Cragmore in January, it subsequently came to light that the lightly-raced eight-year-old had suffered an injury, but that was clearly behind him on his return to action.

With regular rider Darragh Allen in the saddle, the Shirocco-sired bay had few moments of concern as he jumped and travelled with aplomb, as Bold Fury and Big Interest cut out much of the running.

Allen was content to track them, and once looming with his threat three-out, he soon put the race to bed, leaving both Fountain House and West Of Carrig trailing in his wake off the home bend.

By the line, Con’s Roc had pulled 17 lengths clear of West Of Carrig, who snatched the runners-up spot from Fountain House by a short-head.

“He was probably as good as he was last Christmas, so hopefully, he will stay right and we will have plenty of fun with him, please god,” Allen said.

“I was a bit worried going out that there were a few horses with form in it, like Big Interest and a few others, but he did it well. 

“His jumping was brilliant, I was there too soon to be honest, but I didn’t want to break his stride, so I just let him roll away.

“There are a good few lads, all local, involved in him, including four of my uncles, so it’s mighty.

The victory continued a week to remember for trainer Terence O’Brien, following the Troytown Chase victory of Answer To Kayf five days earlier, and he explained the challenges he has had keeping Con’s Roc right.

“He had a stress fracture that was undiagnosed with an x-ray, so in fairness to the lads, they had to pony up nearly €3,000 for an MRI, and it showed that there had been a stress fracture which had been intermittently causing him hassle for a while,” O’Brien said. “That is why he was so lightly raced.

“He has come good now, and that was a great performance. We will probably stick to the hunter chase route, and we will go to Down Royal at Christmas, probably, and then we can dream of going to Cheltenham for the Foxhunters.”