POWER PACK, trained locally by Jeremy Maxwell, made all under Brian Hamilton to record a facile six length victory in the Toal Bookmakers Downpatrick Chase last night.
Owned by Henley based Philip Scouller, who has over 100 point to point victories in the saddle to his credit in Britain, the nine year old gelding will campaign over the summer according to his trainer: "That was a penalty kick really, a very easy race where the conditions really suited him. He likes good ground and is best over two to two and a quarter miles."
Confusion reigned before racing when Oh So Cozy, trained by Lockerbie handler Colin Parker was an enforced withdrawal from the concluding bumper.
Under Turf Club declaration rules all horses must be declared for the first six races half an hour before the opener. Unfortunately, although the horse was declared on time, no passport was produced as required under regulations as the horse had never run in Ireland before, forcing his withdrawal by clerk of the scales Paul Hensey.
Parker, trainer of this year's Cathcart Chase scorer Sparky Gale at the Cheltenham Festival, said: "I am very disappointed. Nobody told me about this rule and it's a long way to come for a wasted journey".
The Scottish trainer was given the mandatory £100 fine for failing to produce a passport at declaration time.
. David Nicholson heads off for a two week walking safari in Zambia next week a happy man after passing the £1 million mark in prize money won for the season at Stratford last night.
After Formal Invitation beat Bayline Star four lengths in the Francis Graves Novices' Chase, Nicholson said: "It's great for the team I'm just the front man. There are 40 of us at Jackdaws Castle with 30 here tonight and 10 at Aintree.
