Chase is elementary for Watson Lake and Carberry

Published on Wednesday 18 November 2009 22:11

WATSON Lake stayed on dourly in the testing conditions to come out on top in the Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase.

The 11-year-old was sent off at 13-2 and raced enthusiastically at the head of affairs under Paul Carberry. Noel Meade's veteran had most of his rivals in trouble turning for home and despite tiring on the run-in, he had enough in reserve to repel the challenge of One Cool Cookie by a length and three-quarters.

Glenfinn Captain, last year's winner and the 13-8 favourite, was disappointing. Ruby Walsh was at his brilliant best as he guided Moskova to victory in the Grade Three EBF T A Morris Memorial Mares Chase. Paul Nolan's grey, who finished fifth in a Grade One at the Punchestown Festival on her latest outing, looked to have lost her chance when making a bad mistake down the back straight.

However, Walsh was in determined mood and the 2-1 favourite got on top late to score by half a length from Hello Kitty.

Nolan said: "After the mistake I thought she'd find it very difficult because we were worried about her fitness. She battled well to the line, though, and she is very tough."

Tony McCoy lifted the gloom on a wet afternoon at Market Rasen with two fine rides on City Theatre and Synchronised. Both horses are trained by Jonjo O'Neill and owned by JP McManus, with McCoy taking his seasonal tally to 120 winners.

City Theatre was making it third-time lucky over timber in the Event Guard "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle. Although close up in third at the final flight, McCoy did not ask him for his effort until a furlong out. With McCoy timing his run to perfection, the 13-8 favourite collared the gallant Ballybriggan to score by half a length.

Synchronised then made a successful debut over fences in the Event Guard Beginners' Chase. O'Neill's 7-4 market leader took a while to warm to his task but McCoy had him perfectly placed to make his challenge going to the last fence.

Although he had only two lengths to spare at the line, his superiority over the runner-up Bluegun was rather more than that might suggest.

Meanwhile, Carl Llewellyn admits conditions will not be ideal for Imperial Commander when he makes his seasonal reappearance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

"The ground looks like it's going to be very soft, which is a bit of a worry for us, but it probably isn't ideal for Kauto Star either," he said.