RACING:Preists Leap secured his place in the record books as he became only the second horse to secure back-to-back victories in the Ellen Construction Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park.
Tom O’Leary’s charge emulated Wylde Hide (1995 and ‘96) as he defied odds of 20-1 — the same price as last year — and a 10lb higher mark to see off top weight Chelsea Harbour.
Philip Enright took up a watching brief as Eric’s Charm and Chelsea Harbour contested the early lead but as the former began to feel the pace on the run for home, the latter was left in front.
Preists Leap was revelling in the testing conditions, ploughing away for Enright to take full advantage of Chelsea Harbour’s mistake at the last and win by four lengths.
Enright said: “He even travelled better than he did last year. The deeper the ground the better for him.”
O’Leary added: “I was hoping more than anything else. We have always had it in mind to come back for this race.
“John O’Donohue (co-owner) said when we won last year he would like to come back and win it three times as you then get to keep the trophy.
“He will go for the Aintree Grand National providing there’s cut in the ground and he will probably have another run before that.”
Novice Alpha Ridge put up an excellent front-running performance to see off his more experienced rivals in the Alo Duffin Memorial Galmoy Hurdle.
A Grade Three winner earlier in the season, Paul Nolan’s seven-year-old was always in the front rank under Davy Russell, setting a sensible pace before starting to turn it up a notch in the final mile.
Favourite Shakervilz looked set to make a battle of it but a bad mistake cost him as Russell had saved a little aboard the 7-1 shot and he came home a length clear of Whatuthink.
Nolan said: “I didn’t like him at Navan on his previous run as he was a bit flat.
“But he was nice and fresh for this — although I thought it might have been a bit too good a race for him.
“There didn’t seem any excuses for the rest of them as he went a nice, consistent gallop on terrible ground.
“All being well, he’ll now go for the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.”
Russell later completed a double for O’Leary as Hurricane Carter (9-4 favourite) emerged victorious in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase.
Jim Gorman is planning a Cheltenham entry for Ready To Rocknroll following his gusty win in the Ballyhane Stud Maiden Hurdle.
Both Moonlight Sapphire and Art Sleuth launched late challenges in the two-mile heat but the 11-4 winner stuck to his guns to prevail by a short head.
“He made hard work of it. He will get an entry for the Triumph but he didn’t impress me as a Triumph horse today,” he said.
“I thought he had come on quite a bit for his run at Leopardstown at Christmas but Paddy (Flood) said he didn’t like being in front and he would like a bit better ground.
“It’s possible he could have a run at Leopardstown on Hennessy day as he needs a bit more jumping experience.”
Henry de Bromhead gained some consolation for Sizing Europe’s latest setback as An Cathaoir Mor got up in the last stride of the Kilkenny Handicap Hurdle.
De Bromhead’s stable star misses the Toshiba Champion Hurdle and while An Cathaoir Mor is not of that calibre, his 7-1 success surely lifted his trainer’s spirits a little.
Cadspeed underlined his Champion Bumper claims with a 15-length victory in the Thomastown Flat Race as the 5-6 favourite.
Part of Willie Mullins’ strong bumper squad, Cadspeed was barely pressured by jockey Patrick Mullins as he breezed home from Deise Dan.