Fozzy Stack eyes Doncaster and a famous Lincoln double for Chazzesmee after stylish victory in Irish Lincolnshire

An audacious bid for a Lincoln double could be on the cards for the lightly raced Chazzesmee after the Fozzy Stack-trained six-year-old defied an eight-month absence to land the Nua Healthcare-sponsored Irish equivalent on the opening day of the Flat turf season.

Ridden by Joey Sheridan, Chazzesmee came with a sustained effort from off the pace on the stands' side to lead inside the final furlong and score by a length from Smooth Tom, who came from a similar position. A head back in third was 2022 winner Raadobarg, now trained in Britain by George Boughey having won for Johnny Murtagh two years ago.

Undoubtedly this talented performer has tested the patience of his trainer. This was just his tenth start in three years and his second at this level, having been a close second in a premier handicap over this trip at last year's Derby festival. 

This was his first start since, but injury was not the issue for his absence this time, as Stack explained: “We went to Saratoga with him after the Curragh, he got a stone bruise over there and couldn't run on the day. Then when we were coming back he got stuck in an airport in Holland or Belgium for four days. Some vet was giving out about the paperwork or something and I basically ran out of time to run him.

Winning connections of Irish Lincolnshire winner ChazzesmeeCredit: Patrick McCann

“He's a horse that has never been short of ability but he broke his pelvis at Dundalk as a three-year-old and was off for a year. For the last six months there has been nothing really wrong with him but he just hasn't been able to run.

“We'll see how he is during the week and then decide over whether to run in the Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday. If he is okay we have nothing to lose.”

Plans are a little different for runner-up Smooth Tom. His trainer Andy Slattery said: “Everyone thought I was mad to run him. He is a ten-furlong horse and I said I would run him on the soft ground. I've fancied him for this race from a long way out. I thought the soft ground and the straight mile would suit him. He gets a bit disconned around bends. He just lacked a bit of a gear today.

“His main aim is the Galway Hurdle and we might go to Punchestown before then, probably for one of the handicap hurdles.”

Third home Raadobarg ran a fine race under his big weight, as good a run as when winning the race two years ago. Rider David Egan said:  “I thought the pace was quite slow. I wanted to creep away and gradually get there inside the last. I had to sit closer because of the slow pace and got picked off late, but given his big weight on that ground it was a big run. I'm very proud of him.”

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