Another Jewel: held on for second by a short head

  PICTURE: Jean-Charles Briens  

Irish raider Jewel second  in Listed Craon

Report: France, Sunday

Craon: Prix Louis de Guebriant - Grand Cross Country de Craon (Listed chase) 2m6f, 5yo+

THE Denis Murphy-trained Another Jewel held on for second by a short head from Chriseti, although ultimately finished a distance behind the front-runnin Fassilado (Jacques Ortet/Jonathan Plouganou) at Craon on Sunday.

Settled in midfield throughout by jockey John Cullen, Another Jewel had a dream round without incident before moving into contention a couple of fences out and running neck and neck to the line with Chriseti.

Murphy said: "We are well pleased with the result and, although we are disappointed not to have won, it was never likely.

"The winner was a fence in front by almost the third jump and it was never possible to go after her as he is a horse that needs to be held up. The horse has come back well after the race and we will now go to Italy next."

Another Jewel has now climbed back to the top of the Crystal Cup rankings and will attempt to retain his lead in the Crosse delle Nazioni (Grand Cross) at Merano on September 19.

Fassilado had finished second in the race last year to Chriseti and had won a similar event at Pompadour on her latest outing. The eight-year-olds winning time was 14 seconds faster than the 2009 renewal.