Jacob's climbing the chasing Ladder in Fairyhouse Jacob's Ladder (10/3) made the most of his race fitness to run out a decisive winner of the opening beginners' chase at Fairyhouse. Gordon Elliott's charge contested a couple of beginners' chases at Naas and over further at this venue in November where he finished runner-up and third respectively. He was always in the front rank in this extended two-mile assignment for Jack Kennedy and readily went on from Sky Lord after the penultimate fence. The six-year-old gelding, with first-time cheekpieces, asserted over the last and came in by a reduced margin of four and a-quarter lengths from a staying-on Karoline Banbou (5/2jf). McLaurey (9/1) was another three and a-quarter lengths away in third. Elliott said: “That was good, I’d say the softer ground was in his favour. “It was a good performance, he jumped well and galloped.” When asked if the drop in trip helped he added: “I wasn’t sure it would, but it looked like it might have. "I’d say the cheekpieces just sharpened him up.” Jacob's Ladder was a Grade 3 winner over hurdles. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
