LOVE THE LORD was the surprise 9 to 1 winner of yesterday's five-runner Power Gold Cup at Fairyhouse and, although aided by the fifth last fence fall of the odds-on favourite Ventana Canyon and the earlier departure of Persian Halo, the obstacles are there to be jumped. The last outsider to win this second day feature was Step Together at 12 to 1 in 1983 while Paddy Bouler was a 20 to 1 chance when successful three years earlier.
One of eight horses trained by Danny O'Connell at Bansha, Co Tipperary, and ridden by Tom Treacy, Mrs Maureen Ring's Love The Lord is only a six-year-old but she has now won seven races - including five chases - since winning a point-to-point only 12 months ago.
"She is good, tough and stays well. The ground makes no difference to her." O'Connell said after greeting Love The Lord, his biggest winner since he began to train to years ago. He will now consider running the mare in the Heineken Gold Cup at Punchestown.
Persian Halo and Paul Carberry parted company at the seventh fence and interfered with Love The Lord and that, according to Tom Treacy was the only time the winner was in any danger. Common Policy, who jumped off in front, was still leading under Conor O'Dwyer when the Richard Dunwoody partnered Ventana Canyon fell in third place five out and badly hampered Charlie Swan's mount, Double Symphony.
Ventana Canyon, the 20 lengths winner of Cheltenham's Arkle Challenge Chase got too close to his fence and paid the penalty. However, he will be back for a valuable two miles chase at Punchestown.
With Double Symphony trailing, Common Policy and Love The Lord were left to do battle. The former jumped the better until meeting the last fence wrong leaving Love The Lord to forge clear and take the £23,100 winner's prize by eight lengths.
Elegant Lord won the Pat Donnelly and Sons Joseph O'Reilly Memorial Cup for the third year running, and did so as a 5 to 1 on chance. JP McManus's Cheltenham Foxhunters winner, and leading Irish hunter for the past two seasons, appears to be better than ever. His trainer-rider Enda Bolger gave him a most patient ride, not electing to make his move until facing up to the last which the horse bounded over and appeared to take the leader Corymandel by surprise.
Elegant Lord and Bolger have now won 14 races including point-to-points. The horse could well graduate to bigger things.
Noel Meade and Paul Carberry combined to win the RFL Steel Hurdle with Alasad, their third winner of the meeting - with another brace on the cards today. Despite concern about the ground Alasad shaded Black Queen over the last and stretched out to win by three lengths.
The Willie Mullins trained Mystical City and her promising young rider. champion claimer David Casey. did well to come back after a second last flight error and win the Bisquit Cognac Handicap Hurdle by a short head.
