Son Of Soldier Of Fortune Captures Grade 2 Chase

The progressive City Chief (6g Soldier Of Fortune - Galant Ferns, by Bob Back) led home a 1-2 for Coolmore NH sires in the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby.

Bought for £210,000 after winning on debut for Denis Murphy, he provided Nicky Henderson with two hurdle wins last season and was last seen winning his second start over fences. Ridden by James Bowen on Sunday, the Mrs Donnelly-owned bay raced prominently throughout the three mile chase and was shaken up approaching the fourth last. Clear by the next fence, he kept on well to win by five lengths from O’Toole (Mahler), with the pair finishing clear of the third.

Last year’s renewal of the Grade 2 contest saw Grade 1 victor Ahoy Senor (Dylan Thomas) beat Noble Yeats (Yeats), with the runner-up going on to capture the Aintree Grand National.

“He was good,” James Bowen said of the latest winner. “I had to make plenty of use of him because he wants further really and I think he had plenty left at the end.”

The National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham may now be on the agenda for City Chief, with bookmakers slashing him in price for the Grade 2. Bred by Liam Kenny, the son of Soldier Of Fortune becomes the first black-type winner out of his dam.