Chacun Pour Soi wins easily on return in Hilly Way Chase at Cork
Chacun Pour Soi made easy work of winning the Grade 2 Kerry Group Hill Way Chase at Cork and is 11/4 for Cheltenham Festival success.
The long odds-on favourite ended up coasting home to beat just one rival after Willie Mullins stablemate Cash Back fell at the last and brought down long-time leader Djingle, but the race was as good as over by that point.
Chacun Pour Soi jumped well throughout the extended two-mile contest and jockey Paul Townend brought him through on the inside to take up the running approaching the second-last fence.
He was foot-perfect there and negotiated the well enough but Cash Back took a crunching tumble and brought down Djingle in the process. Both horses and riders were up within moments.
The winning 1/5 favourite crossed the line with 19 lengths to spare over the only other finisher, Joseph O'Brien's Darasso, who had come under the pump before the turn into the home straight.
Chacun Pour Soi, who was beaten first time out last term when second to A Plus Tard over Christmas before beating Min at the Dublin Racing Festival in February, was cut to 11/4 from 7/2 by Betfair and Paddy Power for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham next March. Sky Bet made the same move in their antepost book.
The horse has yet to appear at a Cheltenham Festival, having been a late withdrawn in the run-up to last season's Champion Chase, eventually won well by Politologue.
“It was a great start for him. He was fairly asleep early on in the race and got a good blow into himself,” said Townend.
“He had the other two well beaten when they fell at the last and was entitled to win. Thankfully he did and it’s good to get him back on the track.”
Regarding his jumping, Townend added: “Touch wood, he’s deadly – I don’t want to put the mockers on him. He’s very good.
“The other two have to show their hands earlier with the way they race, he just had that bit of class. He took a good blow and I think he’ll come on plenty for it.”
Mullins added: "With Chacun Pour Soi it was a case of trying to get a clear round in before the Grade Ones later in the season.
“When the opportunity arose, at the last minute we decided to head down there and it was nice to get a Grade Two and a run under his belt.
“He did what he had to do, he wasn’t impressive or anything, but he just did what he had to do.
“He could run at Christmas and the Dublin Festival, but I haven’t any firm plans made. We’ll see how he comes out of this.”