Cowboy leads home O’Neill one-two
Rhinestone Cowboy, partnered with staggering confidence by J P Magnier, beat stable companion Iris's Gift in the Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers' Hurdle while Cherub took the Colm McEvoy Auctioneers' Champion four-year-old Hurdle.
Rhinestone Cowboy, despite some indifferent jumping, came from well off the pace to completely outpoint Iris's Gift in the stayers' race.
"J P's ridden him great and has never done anything wrong on this horse, I wonder why we've got A P", quipped O'Neill.
When Barry Geraghty sent Iris's Gift to the front, past a gallant Rosaker two out, it looked as if it would be plain sailing for the odds-on favourite.
Rhinestone Cowboy had raced a fair way out of his ground and a mistake six from home wasn't much of help.
Approaching the home turn, however, he came there absolutely cantering on the heels of the front two.
Magnier sat unpertured, refusing to make his move until good and ready. In Rhinestone Cowboy he had a willing partner.
The Be My Native gelding cruised past Iris's Gift going to the last, fell out over the obstacle and then eased clear to score unextended by seven lengths.
Said O'Neill: "He got the trip well and that's what worried us. The horse did a few silly things through the race, jumping up in the air. After that, he will have to go the Stayers' Hurdle route next season.
"Barry didn't blame the ground for Iris's Gift, the horse was just a little flat. We probably went to the well once too often. He will definitely head over fences next season."
Rhinestone Cowboy has been left in the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle today. Commented O'Neill: "We will see how he is in the morning, but it was hard race today and I would say it is unlikely he will run."
Bookmakers got a decent result when O'Neill's Cherub touched off Made In Japan in the four-year-old hurdle.
The tough Made In Japan, winner of the Triumph hurdle at Cheltenham and second to Al Eile at Aintree, led over two out.
Cherub, however, was soon powering through to challenge and, in a terrific finish, Tony Dobbin just forced his charge to the front to score by a short head.
Cherub performed poorly at Aintree previously and O'Neill said: "A couple of our horses weren't right around that time and he was one of them. He remains a novice in England and will stick to novice races next season."
Paul Nolan's Say Again won an eventful Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase.
There was little to choose between the eventual winner, Colca Canyon and heavily-backed Kicking King rising to the second last.
Colca Canyon just about held the call, but toppled at the back of the obstacle, bringing down Kicking King.
Even then the drama wasn't over, as Say Again took a real chance with the final fence, barely scrambling to the other side.
!I got an awful shock at the last, I nearly died", admitted Nolan. "I suppose we got a bit of luck, escaping the carnage.
"He won't go for the Galway Plate, I don't think he would stay that trip. We will give him a few runs on the flat now."
Enda Bolger landed his seventh La Touche Cup in-a-row when Spot Thedifference stayed on doggedly to take the unique stamina-sapping four and a quarter mile test.
The winner was always tracking the leaders and was in total control once John Thomas McNamara - this was his second success in the race sent the 11-year-old clear on the approach to the last.
Spot Thedifference, who hadn't scored since June 2001, is certainly one tough customer, considering his previous appearance was when finishing fifth to Amberleigh House in the Grand National at Aintree.
"I'm delighted for the horse, it is so long since he's won", said Bolger. "This is a great spctacle and long may it continue."
