Mighty Moscow beaten in a thriller

JESSICA HARRINGTON, one suspects, always knew it would happen!

Yesterday at Punchestown her beloved Moscow Flyer, unbeaten when staying on his feet in 19 previous races over fences, went under by an agonising short head to old adversary, Rathgar Beau, in the Kerrygold Champion Chase.

In truth the remarkable 11-year-old gave this away with a terrible blunder at the second last. Two years earlier, in the same race, he fell at the same fence, handing the prize to Flagship Uberalles.