Jacob’s Ladder continued his climb up the ratings with his first graded success in the Flyingbolt Novice Chase at Navan on Saturday.
Gordon Elliott’s progressive young chaser took up the running before the second last fence in the small five-runner field and was kept up to his work by Jack Kennedy in the Gigginstown silks to win the Grade 3 event by just over a length.
“We don’t have that many two-mile chasers and we like to support these graded races. On ratings he was the best horse in the race and that was how it turned out. Jack said it was hard work on him on heavy ground, though,” Elliott told Racing TV.
“But he has come a long way quickly from a beginners’ chase to winning at the Dublin Racing Festival and now today. He could be a nice horse for Fairyhouse or Aintree.”
Jacob’s Ladder has certainly contributed his share to Elliott’s bid to wrest the trainers’ championship from Willie Mullins.
At the close of play, Elliott stood €428,000 ahead of his pursuer with two months of the season still to play. The Irish Grand National meeting at Fairyhouse and Punchestown will decide the fate of the title.
Given his firepower in the biggest races, Mullins is still very much the favourite. But Elliott deserves great credit for the fight he is bringing.
( Pic is of Jacob’s Ladder and Jack Kennedy winning the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Chase at Navan – photo Patrick McCann, Racing Post)
Upcoming Fixtures
Leopardstown Tues, March 3 (first race 1.55pm)
Naas Weds, March 4 (first race 2.20pm)
Thurles Thurs, March 5 (first race 1.58pm)
Dundalk Fri, March 6 (first race 4.37pm)
Gowran Park Sat, March 7 (first race 2.13pm)
Naas Sun, March 8 (first race 2.20pm)
