Leopardstown report: Jessica Harrington's losing streak stretched back for 78 days and almost 100 losers but Studmaster stopped the rot in style with a rousing success in yesterday's Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The 16 Mountjoy prison officers who make up the winning syndicate guaranteed an even more rousing reception as Tommy Treacy guided Studmaster into the winners enclosure after a two-and-a-half length defeat of No Where To Hyde.
A pair of 25 to 1 shots in Pom Flyer and Charlies First filled the other places but the well-supported favourite, Victram, never figured and was pulled up before the last.
Despite the noisy post-race excitement though there was no mistaking the relief emanating from the winning trainer, or indeed the many race fans who have anxiously waited for Harrington's luck to change since her last winner on October 28th.
That sorry list of losers have included the great champion Moscow Flyer who has been beaten twice this season and whose Cheltenham hopes had widely been consigned to a file marked fading.
His Champion Chase odds might make interesting viewing this morning.
"One swallow doesn't make a summer but at least it's a start," said Harrington. "The last winner feels like 10 months ago, and this has been a long time coming, but it's wonderful."
Crucially the final touches to Studmaster's success were administered personally by Harrington whose recovery from a broken neck sustained on a summer safari holiday was finally confirmed just two weeks ago.
"I was given the all clear but then I got flu and I only started back riding on Wednesday," she explained. "I ride this fellow every day. He is my horse. He's very civilised and suitable for grannys!"
Harrington landed the year's first big handicap pot in 1996 with another 12 to 1 winner in Dance Beat and she could now aim Studmaster at Newbury's Totesport Trophy.
Tommy Treacy's biggest previous pay day was all of nine years ago on Danoli in the Hennessy Gold Cup. In between there was a runner-up placing on Theatreworld in the Champion Hurdle but this was another welcome taste of the big time.
"He's a right good horse and needed plenty of courage to keep going on that sort of ground," he said.
The heavy going was a crucial factor throughout the day. Heavy morning rain resulted in two of the fences on the far side being omitted and it didn't seem to do the 4 to 11 favourite in the opener, Back To Bid, any favours as he struggled to third behind Night Bridge.
But it was no obstacle at all to the impressive Nickname who made it two from two in Ireland with an easy victory in the Grade Two Novice Chase.
"It's the first time I've been run away with for two miles!" reported Conor O'Dwyer to trainer Martin Brassil who hasn't make up his mind about a Cheltenham target - if indeed Nickname goes.
"He won't run on good ground. Soft going is crucial and there are too many prizes to be won on soft," said Brassil before nominating the PJ Moriarty at the Hennessy meeting as a possible target next.
Bookmaker reaction was to make Nickname a general 12 to 1 shot for the Arkle but he is also now as low as 6 to 1 joint-favourite for the SunAlliance.
Charlie Swan won the Leopardstown Chase as a jockey 10 years ago on Royal Mountbrowne for Aidan O'Brien but he trained his own winner yesterday as the 4 to 1 favourite What A Native dourly stayed on to beat Ross River by a length.
"I didn't mind seeing all the rain. I knew he would be in his element," said Swan. "He is still a novice so we have options and I might look at something like the Eider at Newcastle."
Perce Rock earned an immediate 20 to 1 quote from Cashmans for the Cheltenham bumper after ploughing through the desperate ground to win the last by a distance. But that quickly disappeared down to 14s.
"He's a good actioned horse so we'll think of Cheltenham and Aintree," said Tommy Stack's son, Fozzy.
Patsy Hall edged out Ballintra Boy in a slogging match for the Pertemps Qualifier while Supreme Justice landed some shrewd bets when landing the handicap hurdle under Paddy Flood.
A crowd of 9,023, up 854 on last year's figure, bet over €1.8 million at Leopardstown yesterday.
Bookmaker turnover of €1.304,444 was up €275,912 on 2005 while the Tote figure of €533,557 was up almost €75,000.
