Racing: Barry Geraghty managed to get Macs Joy to win a thrilling AIG Europe Champion Hurdle yesterday and afterwards also managed to perfectly sum up what had just happened by declaring: "You'll never again see as good a finish to a championship race."
On the sort of heavy ground that normally produces double-digit winning distances, three horses flashed past the winning post in an epic finish to rival anything seen in Leopardstown's long history.
There were plenty in the 9,500 strong crowd who believed Brave Inca had battled back from an almost impossible position to edge out Macs Joy. There were even others who in the first flush of post-race excitement thought Hardy Eustace had edged it.
However, after an agonising wait the verdict eventually went to the 11 to 8 favourite, but only by a short head from Brave Inca with Hardy Eustace a head back in third.
It capped an exceptional day for Macs Joy's trainer, Jessica Harrington, who also landed the Grade One Baileys Arkle Cup with the inexperienced Ulaan Baatar. But the Co Kildare trainer was convinced the double hadn't come up.
"I actually thought he was beaten and that Brave Inca had won. I was walking down to the parade ring and when the verdict was announced I could hardly believe it. That finish was something else," she said.
Harrington wasn't alone in thinking Brave Inca had emerged best. The runner-up's rider, Barry Cash, briefly believed he had scooped the most important pot of his career, only for the €90,000 first prize to be snatched away. "Conor O'Dwyer (Hardy Eustace's jockey) told me I'd won so I thought I had," said the 30-year-old jockey with a wistful grin. "But we won't be far away in March!"
Cash wasn't alone in immediately thinking ahead to the festival, but many firms deduced from yesterday's evidence that it will be the reigning Cheltenham champion, Hardy Eustace, who will emerge best of the trio in eight weeks.
Hardy Eustace was cut to as low as 13 to 2 third favourite with Paddy Power after a return to form on ground that was too testing to be ideal. His trainer, Dessie Hughes, also didn't rule out another pre-festival appearance.
"He could go for the Red Mills at Gowran. He takes his racing very well and I was perfectly happy with the way he went today," he said.
Brave Inca, however, will go straight to Cheltenham, and his trainer, Colm Murphy, still believes his charge will get his head in front of Macs Joy on the day that counts most.
"He has beaten us three times this season and is becoming a bit of a nuisance!" Murphy said. "But there was only a nod in it this time and we're getting closer. We've said all along we're going step by step to Cheltenham and we're on track."
The 8 to 1 from Ladbrokes was the best on Brave Inca in a Champion Hurdle market that remains dominated by Irish-trained horses. Macs Joy is also an 8 to 1 shot, but any potential Cheltenham celebrations will have to compete with the riotous scenes generated by the winner's owners, the Mac's J Racing syndicate.
Made up of five members from Co Monaghan and headed by the electrical shop owner Jim McMahon, they made their presence felt with a vengeance in the winner's enclosure. "The horse is giving them so much fun," said Harrington.
Harrington added: "They are three good horses and the three of them could be coming up the hill at Cheltenham yet."
