Bubble bursts as Irish ‘banker’ fails to cash in
His jumping was the big worry coming into the contest, but except for a minor error or two along the way that could not be cited as a reason for his defeat.
He was a bit free in the early stages and was taken a trifle wide throughout by Brian O'Connell. That, however, is simply grasping at straws. The bottom line is he came there swinging on the bridle approaching the home turn and did not pick up anywhere near as well as one would have hoped.
Dunguib stayed on to be a never dangerous third, but the electrifying burst of speed he produced to win the bumper last year was sadly missing.
Trainer, Philip Fenton, said of Dunguib: "We are satisfied with his performance, although it's obviously disappointing we are not in the number one spot.
“He has come back in one piece and seems fine, that's the main thing. We live to fight another day. He travelled well, although I thought the gallop might have been a bit stronger. He jumped the last well, but just couldn't pick up the first two. O'Connell reported: “We had every chance.”
Victory went to Philip Hobbs' Menorah, despite the fact he was inclined to weave about a fair bit. He enjoyed a dream run up the inside for Richard Johnson off the home turn and was always holding Get Me Out Of Here in the last hundred yards, the verdict a head.
Hobbs said: “He's only five and I'd think might go for the Champion Hurdle, rather than going chasing, although his long-term future lies over fences.” Johnson commented: “I've always thought a lot of him and he has never had a race run to suit until today, it was a true-run race.”
