Flagship Uberalles sails again
Backed from 2-5 to 4-11, he left his supporters with a real mountain to climb when guessing and paying the ultimate penalty at that penultimate obstacle.
Prior to that Jessica Harrington’s gelding jumped for fun, on the heels of the leaders, as Latalmone blazed the trail. So well was Moscow Flyer going that Barry Geraghty allowed him stride on before the fourth last.
The favourite threw a spectacular leap at the next and grabbed what appeared to be a decisive advantage.
Suddenly, however, a rejuvenated Flagship Uberalles was in hot pursuit and he closed relentlessly on the leader. There was only about three parts of a length between them rising to that fateful obstacle.
Moscow Flyer, however, never threatened to get across it, giving Geraghty little chance of keeping the partnership intact.
Flagship Uberalles was left in a clear lead and he strode away to beat Arctic Copper by six lengths.
Said winning rider, Richard Johnson: "It is hard to say what way it would have went, but we would have gone very close.”
Commented trainer, Philip Hobbs: "I put blinkers on Flagship at Cheltenham and it was the wrong thing to do. He travelled well in them, but didn’t get home.
"I don’t know whether he would have won, I’d like to see a replay of the race. What I can say is that he always comes home well. The ground was just about okay for him.”
Said Geraghty: "The fences are like brick walls. Make one mistake and you’re gone.”
Cashmans reacted by leaving Moscow Flyer as their 5-2 favourite for next year’s Champion Chase. He is followed by Arkle winner, Azertyuiop, on 7-2 and it’s 10-1 bar.
Undaunted, the odds-on boys were in action again for the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle, thumping Back In Front from 1-2 to 4-11. He wasn’t anywhere near as impressive as at Cheltenham, but still produced a decent effort. Norman Williamson powered him past Fota Island, always in the first two, before the final flight and the late rush of Limerick Boy was never any sort of worry.
Back In Front seems likely to return here on Friday for the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle, a double completed a year ago by Devenport Milenium.
Commented trainer, Edward O’Grady: "I’d like to run him on Friday, it seems a very nice race.
"But there is no hurry making a decision and I will see how he is. Ideally, I would prefer to give him more time between his races, but this is a one-off.”
Cashmans make Back In Front joint second favourite, with Rhinestone Cowboy, at 7-1 for the Champion Hurdle, behind market leader, Rooster Booster, 9-2.
Enniscorthy, Co Wexford permit holder, Seamus Neville, enjoyed his biggest success to date when Heart Midoltian landed the Ellier Developments Novice Chase.
Neville has just four horses in his care and this was his first win at Punchestown. Heart Midoltian was given a confident drive by David Russell, easing to the front over the second last. The always prominent Joly Bey tried to rally in the straight, but there was still four lengths between them at the line.
"We were hoping there would be no rain, he wants good ground”, said Neville. "We will wait and see what the handicapper does, before making plans, but the Galway Plate is a possibility.”
The stiff fences took their toll, with market leader, Barrow Drive, 6-4 to 11-10, falling at the ninth when with the leaders. Eskimo Jack fell at the first
Ruby Walsh, who misses today’s meeting due to suspension, made the worst possible start to the meeting when taking a crashing fall from Shady Lad in the opening Kildare Hunt Club Chase.
Shady Lad went at the first bank, tumbling Walsh to the ground. He was badly shaken, stood down for the rest of the day and removed to hospital in Naas.
He was later discharged unscathed. Victory went to John Fowler’s Native Beat, who had just taken the measure of the front-running Clawick Connection when that one departed at the last.
A large gamble went astray on Greywell in the Murphy International Ltd Handicap Hurdle. He was backed as high as 10-1 in the morning and from 7-1 to 5’s on track.
Greywell tracked the leaders for most of the journey, but back-pedalled heading to two out and was pulled up after the flight. He was subsequently found to be suffering from a respiratory tract infection.
Victory went to Blue Away, giving Pat Hughes a welcome turn, who got the better of a tough battle with Horner Rocks on the flat.
Blue Away was nibbled at from 20-1 to 14’s. The Bumper saw a massive pile-up in front of the stands. On The Hour slipped up and no less than ten of those following behind were brought down. It was an horrific scene of carnage, but, remarkably, nearly all of the pilots were fine and survived to fight another day.
The exception was Pat Murphy, who suffered injuries to his chest, also had pain in his back and experienced difficulty breathing.
He was fully conscious, but removed to Naas hospital for X-rays.
Heavily backed favourite, Reine Des Reines, avoided the trouble and proceded to turn in an extraordinary performance.
John Kiely’s charge came from well off the pace to sweep ahead on the outside close home in the hands of Derek O’Connor.
