Leopardstown Report:Cane Brake completed a remarkable big race double when carrying topweight to success in yesterday's Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown and his trainer, Tom Taaffe, is already targeting a possible tilt at the most famous handicap of all, the Aintree Grand National.

However, before running at Liverpool in April, Taaffe will have to persuade Cane Brake's 20 owners in the Mount Temple syndicate to overcome their fears about the mammoth Aintree fences.

But the encouraging news for the Straffan trainer is that his credit will hardly ever be higher than it is now.

It might not have been Kicking King in the Gold Cup or the King George but Cane Brake's performance yesterday appeared to give Taaffe, who only received the horse during the summer, huge satisfaction.

"A lot of thanks must go to David Wachman who recommended he come to me when he stopped training jumpers," he grinned.

"Mind you, he's probably not happy he gave him away now!"

Wachman's focus has moved on to the glamorous flat game but he will have appreciated the way his friend prepared Cane Brake to win the prestigious Troytown Chase at Navan last month.

The only drawback to that was a 13lb hike in the ratings that took the horse to the top of the Paddy Power weights.

But Taaffe's solution was to get some weight off by using his little known claiming rider Adrian Joyce instead of the former champion, Barry Geraghty.

"I was happier with the horse carrying 11.3 rather than 11.10 and I knew I had the right man in Adrian," he said.

Such a display of faith encouraged 20-year-old Joyce into a remarkably cool display in what is one of the most valuable prizes of the winter with a first prize of almost €110,000.

A monster field of 28 runners did nothing to faze the Roscommon native either as he repaid Taaffe's faith in style with just the eighth winner of his fledgling career.

"I've been with Tom for six months and he has brought me on so much. I've learned so much from him," beamed Joyce who has also ridden five winners for the Co Wicklow trainer, Francis Flood.

"This is a dream come true. I knew from three out he'd keep galloping and he's a wonderful horse."

Taaffe's instructions were to ride as if the race was the Aintree National - "hunt around wide on the first circuit and then creep in to it" - and the tactics paid off early on as the well fancied Sound Witness crashed out at the fifth.

The fall did nothing to help the favourite Sher Beau who never got in to a challenging position and instead it was the 50 to 1 outsider Cheeky Lady that became Joyce's target as the field swung into the straight.

Colm Murphy's mare was always travelling well but jockey Joey Elliot dropped his whip on the run to the last and it was Ballistraw that emerged as Cane Brake's big challenger on the run in.

However Joyce had half a length in hand to give the winning syndicate, made up of 19 men and one woman, a massive pay day.

"It was an exemplary performance in the Troytown but I was told I couldn't come here with topweight and win," Taaffe declared.

"I don't think a topweight has won the Paddy Power before but we're talking about a very good horse here."

How good Cane Brake might eventually turn out to be might yet be found out at Aintree although the owners are not overly keen on giving the Grand National a shot. Their trainer though is getting into persuasive mode.

"He popped away perfectly, got in close, and went long, and he's got a great attitude and heart. I would love to run him in the English National. If he doesn't, we'll have to step him up to graded company which will be no problem either," Taaffe added.

However a Grand National success for a horse by the champion flat sire Sadlers Wells might not be the strangest thing ever to happen in racing.

"Istabraq won three Champion Hurdles and these Sadlers Wells horses are good, tough stayers," argued Taaffe.

The owners look set for an earful!

Last year's Paddy Power day produced a modern day record crowd for Leopardstown of over 20,000 but there was a significant drop of nearly 4,000 yesterday to a total of 16,565.

There was no impact on bookmaker turnover however with an increase of €397,941 to €2,601,212. Tote turnover did decrease by €67,528 to a figure of €684,416.