What a result for super-sub Sam

A 1-2 for England in yesterday’s rescheduled Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, What A Friend beating Money Trix, confirmed what most of us thought anyway that there is little or no chance of an Irish success in the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

What A Friend, part-owned by Alex Ferguson, is a long way down the pecking-order at Paul Nicholls’ and yet was able to slam the best we could offer.

To put it in context, What A Friend was well beaten in the Hennessy at Newbury by Denman, who conceded him no less than 22lbs.