Fighting Fit (Gavin Brouder) leads over the last© Photo Healy Racing
It was a case of déjà vu in the Charlie Chute Memorial Handicap Chase at Listowel as Fighting Fit again got the better of Barnacullia to provide rider Gavin Brouder with a local success.
The first two were separated by half-a-length when fighting out the finish at the Galway Festival last month and the result was a near replica in this 2m1f event.
The Philip Dempsey-trained gelding headed the front-running Irish Blaze just before the penultimate fence and a fast jump at the last sealed victory as he went on to beat his old rival (both 9/2 joint favourites) by a length and a half. Bythesametoken was a further nine and a half lengths adrift in third.
Dempsey said, "Things didn't go right for him last year but he is a lovely horse and this year has bounced back. You'd have to be happy with that.
"He seems to have plenty pace, travelled better than he did at Galway and will stay at this distance. Winter ground won't bother him and there are a few options for him soon."
Quotes by Tom Weekes
