Leopardstown: Day Two Report
Trainer Jonjo O'Neill's five strong plunder on the Paddy Power Chase paid dividends on day two of the Leopardstown Christmas festival today.
World Wide Web (8/1f), running in the colours of JP McManus, picked his way through the 28 strong field to land the €170,000 prize in impressive fashion, holding off Kymandjen and Satcoslam - second in the race last year - by nine lengths and a head respectively.
McManus had intended running the winner in today's Welsh National at Chepstow but rerouted to the Dublin track today after reconsidering the itinerary with O'Neill.
He said: "I was a bit disappointed not to have a representative in Chepstow but its nice to win here and Liam (Cooper) gave him a great ride. He just kept soldiering on and earned his few quid today."
"He's a lovely galloper and stays well and he also loves the fact that there was a lot of horses around him today."
Star chaser Moscow Flyer (2/7) needed to scrap for victory in the Grade Two Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase.
The reigning champion chaser, a superb winner at Sandown last time out, needed a determined drive from jockey Barry Geraghty turning for home to see off the challenge of Native Scout who ran a creditable race to finish five lengths off in second.
Winning trainer Jessica Harrington spoke afterwards of how her winner idled in front when left in that position six from home after long-time leader No Need For Alarm blundered badly.
"He did what he had to do but he idled out there in front," she said. "He likes company and flew the last ditch down the back when joined by the others. Barry gave him a slap down the shoulder turning for home and I'm just delighted he's back in one piece.
The workmanlike performance did not, however, merit a cut in price and bookmakers Sean Graham are unchanged at 7/4 for a successful title defence in Cheltenham in three months time.
Geraghty was in fine form earlier in the day winning the opening Paddy Power Festival 3-year-old Hurdle aboard Dessie Hughes' Guilt and soon after on the impressive filly Waterlily for Harrington in the two mile Paddy Power Maiden Hurdle.
Newmill's bid to land three Grade victories in-a-row was thwarted by the Pat Fahy-trained Mariah Rollins (4/1) in the paddy power.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle.
The pair finished one-two respectively in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse but the concession of 13 pounds to his rival today proved a bridge too far as Newmill found the speedy filly a touch too fast turning for home.
Mariah Rollins, patiently ridden throughout by David Casey before collaring the leaders after the second last and swiftly extending her advantage to beat Newmill and Mark The Man by eight and 14 lengths respectively, has the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival next March in her sights.
"Based on her Fairyhouse run I was very confident today," Fahy explained afterwards. "I could find no reason to go off her today but she can still improve her jumping as she's still having a look at some fences."
Joseph Vernet (5/1) held the aces in the Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle, holding off Arellano and G V A Ireland by two lengths and six lengths, while Point Barrow (10/1) produced late on the outside by Derek O'Connor won the concluding Christmas bumper.