3 minute read
Jungle Boogie provided his rider Darragh O’Keeffe with his first success at Ascot when he landed The Howden Graduation Steeple Chase on Saturday.
Few could doubt the talent Henry De Bromhead's lightly raced ten-year-old possesses and the fact he was eligible to contest a graduation chase that was open to horses that have won twice or less over fences would surely have come as a surprise to many.
Just four went to post for the two-mile five-furlong contest but that didn't stop it from being an eventful affair, with Iroko, the sole UK-trained contender, departing at the first fence after he collided with Fil Dor in mid-air.
That left Jungle Boogie out in front and although he produced a fairly errant round of jumping, which included a number of customary left-handed leaps, Henry de Bromhead's son of Gold Well turned for home travelling best. The Willie Mullins-trained James Du Berlais, who failed to convince in the jumping department and raced keenly in the hands of Daryl Jacob, was the first of the remaining trio to crack and once Fil Dor came off the bridle, Jungle Boogie ultimately had the race in safekeeping.
A good leap at the last sealed the deal, allowing Darragh O'Keeffe plenty of time to enjoy his first ride at the Berkshire venue.
Of the 7/2, who was last seen finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup at last year's Cheltenham Festival, O'Keeffe said: "He's a very classy horse, I got to ride him last year on New Year's Day in Tramore and he was very good.
"He ran some race in the Gold Cup and probably didn't stay the extended trip, but I thought coming here today that he seemed to be in good form.
"Iroko went early, he normally does jump a bit left anyway, but when the loose horse was there, he was having a bit of a look – but thankfully he got the job done.
"We had a chat before and said we'd go a nice gallop on him, he likes bossing things. When I opened him up to the second last, he really took off. He's a very smart horse.
"He's a horse that likes to get on with things, he's 10 now but he's got very few miles on the clock, so hopefully they'll get a good clear run with him now and he'll be able to go on to other big races."
