Champion display by Moscow
He only knows two ways to behave over fences, win or fail to complete. Yesterday, at the opening stage of the Punchestown Festival, he was immaculate in landing the Grade One BETDAQ.com Champion Chase, under an ultra-confident Barry Geraghty drive.
What it meant was that in 19 races over fences he has now won 14 and failed to come back with his rider aboard in the other five.
In truth this was little more than a good schooling session for Jessica Harrington’s multi-talented 10-year-old.
He was always travelling sweetly for Geraghty, as Strong Run and Native Upmanship tried to get him off the bridle.
That was an impossible task and Moscow Flyer, who jumped accurately throughout, landed in front four from home.
He soon strode on, effortlessly, and only Rathgar Beau was any sort of danger approaching the second last.
A couple of back-handers from Geraghty, to keep Moscow Flyer up to his task, was all that was required and there was a snug two lengths between them at the line.
Geraghty told Harrington, in the winner’s enclosure, that it was the best ride Moscow Flyer had ever given him in this country.
Said Geraghty: “Jessica left him right down after Aintree. He did it well and jumped brilliantly.”
Commented Harrington: “We didn’t do a whole lot with him after Aintree, virtually nothing, just one breeze up the Curragh.
“The King George is now the plan and he will start off next seaosn in the Fortria ’Chase at Navan. The King George will be a finding-out exercise, it is great to be finding out things about a horse at ten!”
Cashmans wasted no time forming a market on the King George and offered Moscow Flyer as their 5-1 favourite.
Brave Inca, who battled like a lion to master War Of Attrition in the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham, had to again dig deep to beat Royal Shakespeare in the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.
The ground was drying out all the time and that was no help to Colm Murphy’s smashing gelding.
But, when top-class horse, you can overcome most obstacles and that’s exactly what Brave Inca is. Royal Shakespeare led two out and still held the call over Royal Alphabet and the driven along Brave Inca at the last.
Royal Alphabet was the first to crack and it was only in the dying strides that Barry Cash forced Brave Inca to the narrowest of successes.
“He’s class and kept pulling it out,” said Murphy of the horse who has put him on the map.
“Having watched him there, I would think we will be going the Champion Hurdle route next season. All he does is eat and sleep. He’s unbelievable and every time you watch him work it frightens you.
“I don’t know where he will start off next season. We won’t be in any hurry, but he will probably run before Christmas and then at Christmas.”
Brave Inca now possesses a remarkable record. He is the winner of seven races in-a-row, two bumpers and then all five hurdle races this campaign. Cashmans kept him at 12-1 for the Champion Hurdle.
English invader Lord Sam, trained by Victor Dartnall, overcame some sketching jumping to outbattle Hi Cloy in the Ellier Developments Novice ’Chase.
It was a good display by the eight-year-old, who is unbeaten in four races over fences, having had his problems since scoring at Kempton in January.
Hi Cloy, last of the four for most of the trip, edged ahead between the final two fences and that was probably soon enough for him.
Lord Sam was quickly challenged, hit the front at the last, where the pair collided, and showed the greater resolution on the level to score by a neck.
“He needed to get more confidence and that’s why we brought him here, before he is left off for the summer,” reported Dartnall.
“He will have to step in among the big boys now and will be aimed at the King George. Three miles is much more his trip.”
Charlie Swan saddled his first ever winner at the Festival when Missindependence took the Bewleys’ Hotels EBF National Hunt Fillies Bumper.
She swept on turning in for Leonard Flynn and no trouble holding Lovely Present, in a contest in which Swan was also responsible for the third and fifth.
The stewards inquired into an incident about four furlongs out when four horses hit the deck.
As a result, Richard Harding, who partnered Garrshella, was suspended for ten days, found guilty of careless riding.
Bookmakers began with a screamer when 33-1 shot Andrewjames landed the Kildare Hunt ’Chase over the banks.
Taken to the front of affairs before the straight by Jeremy Cash, the grey battled on to beat well-supported market leader, Takagi, by a length.
Cash, a first cousin to Barry Cash, is 28 and was enjoying a third success.
The attendance yesterday was 15,229, up 2,200 on last year.
