Moscow gets Irish challenge off to a flyer

WHAT began as a day of lots of long faces — and not just the horses — ended up changing tack mid-afternoon bringing smiles to Irish eyes.

Tom Foley's Royal Paradise had barely stamped out the bonfire of hype built around him, finishing a disappointing seventh in the opening race, when Moscow Flyer stepped into the breach. Lining out as the drizzle lifted in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, he had the air of a horse determined to redeem the disappointment of falling last year. This time round he beat last year's winner Azertyuiop into third place and the hotly-fancied Well Chief into second to raise the rowdiest cheer of the day.

Roars of "You'll never beat the Irish", reverberated around the parade ring and the winner's enclosure as jubilant jockey Barry Geraghty took a flying leap out of the saddle. Trainer Jessica Harrington, based in Moone, Co Kildare declared the win "fantastic I couldn't believe my eyes" as her daughters, Emma and Kate whooped with delight.