He might not be as good as Kauto Star, or even Denman, but Neptune Collonges still proved more than able enough to pick up yesterday's Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown and put a perfect €250,000 seal on the season for Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls.
Britain's champion trainer and Ireland's champion jockey have enjoyed a remarkable winter and spring campaign together highlighted by Kauto Star's rise to superstardom at Cheltenham last month.
The blooming talent of Kauto's next door neighbour, Denman, means that Nicholls has a stranglehold at the top of the Gold Cup betting for 2008 and Neptune Collonges himself is now as low as 20 to 1 for that race after a three-and-a-half-length defeat of Kingscliff yesterday with In Compliance only third.
However, as Star De Mohaison is also in most ante-post lists, the grey is rated only fourth best of the Nicholls Gold Cup contenders and at least one bookmaker's representative was being only semi-mischievous when suggesting that Nicholls might be in line to "do a Michael Dickinson" and saddle the first five in next year's blue riband.
As it is, Nicholls is rated only 5 to 4 to win another Gold Cup with one of his powerful squad although he suspects Neptune Collonges might not be in love with Cheltenham. "He ran okay in eighth behind Kauto this time but he was caught a little flat-footed when they quickened two out and I'm not convinced Cheltenham suits him. He appreciates more of a galloping track like this," the trainer said.
Neptune Collonges certainly put in the best performance of his career yesterday to take over from Kingscliff after the fifth last and then hold his compatriot's renewed challenge. In Compliance came under pressure after the fourth last but kept going for third with Racing Demon in fourth.
"We got a good lead and kicked on when we got the chance. I was surprised nothing came to me. Kauto Star is exceptional but this horse is only six and will improve," said Walsh who was winning the festival feature for the third time. "It makes a change to win for Paul here. He doesn't bring too many over but it's great to win."
Indeed, Nicholls has had just five runners in Ireland in the last five years but won two Grade Ones here in 2003 with Sporazene and Le Roi Miguel and said: "I'd like to bring more horses but it's not always possible to fit things in with Cheltenham and Aintree. But this is a great way to end the season."
Those dismissing Mick The Man's chance in the Paddy Power Champion Bumper because of the four second placings in a row next to his name were burned in some style as Noel Meade's horse beat the Philip Fenton pair of Woodbine Willie and Shirley Casper with the favourite Cork All Star only fifth.
Nina Carberry was at her brilliant best on the winner who had proved expensive to follow since his winning debut. "Nina said she was going to ride to be placed and see what happened. I don't know how many bumpers she has won for us this season but she is some help. She's magic. She's got that touch of genius about her," said Meade.
Ruby Walsh was also successful on board the former Group Three flat winner Bobs Pride in the handicap hurdle and Dermot Weld believes his horse will be top class over jumps next season.
"I think he will go right to the top. He is Champion Hurdle standard and is just a class act now that he is enjoying his hurdling," said Weld who could consider the English Cambridgeshire for Bobs Pride in the autumn.
Tony Martin was singing the praises of jockey Robbie Colgan after Royal County Star's success in the handicap chase and said: "At one stage he looked like pulling up but he didn't panic and allowed the horse get into it. It was some riding performance."
Grangeclare Lark improved upon her third last year to lift the mares hurdle from the well backed favourite Shuil Aris while Pacolet made it two from two over fences when out-speeding Reisk Superman from the last in the novice chase.
Nina Carberry had to settle for the runner-up spot in the champion hunters chase on board It's Like That who found the veteran Joe Blake three and a half lengths too good.
A second day crowd of 20,153 was almost a thousand down on last year but they managed to generate a new course record for the Tote of €1,205,974, an increase of nearly €300,000 on 2006. Bookmaker turnover of €3,539,824 was up €255,226 with €695,162 bet on the Gold Cup alone.
