Maxine O’Sullivan steered It Came To Pass to a somewhat comprehensive success of the 2m 7f Dan Linehan’s Bar and B&B Hunters Chase at Killarney of Monday evening.
Having won two open and a hunters chase at Cork this season, the Eugene O’Sullivan -trained nine-year-old atoned for unseating in the Champion Hunters Chase at Punchestown when taking this contest by over a length.
Owned by the UK based Alurie O’Sullivan, the nine-year-old was given a patient ride before sweeping through to pick up the advantage at the penultimate obstacle.
The son of Brian Boru picked up readily in the closing stages to see- off the challenge of the gallant On The Fringe, while Sea Light ran a big race back in third.
The early pace setter Ajijic came home in fourth under Mikey O'Connor, while Mart Lane was the final finisher. Exit Eleven was the only runner not to complete having unseated Declan Queally with a bad mistake on the final circuit.
According to the winning handler the Cheltenham Foxhunters will be the target for It Came To Pass next season as O'Sullivan commented afterwards:
"He took longer than we expected to get him ready for Cheltenham this year and that's why missed it but he'll go there next year.
We were unlucky in Punchestown and it is for those days that we got him."
