Upmanship lands spoils and spares O'Dwyer blushes
O’Dwyer took it very easy on the run-in, as Davids Lad came from well off the pace to absolutely fly home and get within a length of the winner.
A totally unperturbed O’Dwyer cooly remarked subsequently: “It was a nice day out. I knew something was coming, I could hear the crowd.”
In truth, Native Upmanship was never out of a canter, as he shared the lead with Beachcomber Bay.
O’Dwyer allowed him lead arriving to the third last and, essentially, the race was over as a contest off the home turn.
Davids Lad was a remote fourth at this stage, but made up a huge amount of ground to indicate he is far from a back number.
“He came here in good form and is as good as he ever was”, reported Arthur Moore of Native Upmanship.
“He will run again in three weeks at Naas (Newlands Chase) and then it will be the Champion Chase at Cheltenham. He will also go back to Aintree (successful there for the last two years).”
Tony Martin, confirming the Aintree Grand National remains Davids Lad’s target, remarked: “You would have to be delighted with that. He will have a couple of more races before Liverpool, I just hope he is in the same form in the spring.”
Cashmans left Native Upmanship unchanged at 25-1 for the Champion Chase, but shortened Davids Lad to 16-1, from 20’s, for the National.
Moore and O’Dwyer started their afternoon in style when Mansony landed the Gain Recovery Plus Hurdle.
Old Flame tried to make all, but Mansony answered O’Dwyer’s call to master the leader coming away from the second last.
“That was a good performance and he will run in three weeks time, either over two miles at Navan or two and a half at Naas”, said Moore.
Cane Brake, who found 8-11 from evens, finished a poor third, struggling badly as the field headed to the third last.
Michael Hourigan’s well-backed The Parishioner battled strongly to beat Kim Fontaine in the INH Stallion Farms’ EBF Novice Hurdle.
Kim Fontaine edged ahead coming away from five out, but was stalked into the straight by the eventual winner.
The Parishioner led heading to the final flight, but had to hard driven all the way to the line to score by half a length.
Commented Hourigan: “He’s a fair steed. He will be a lot better horse when getting a proper gallop.
“We will stay small with him for the moment and it is unlikely he will go to Cheltenham.”
David Russell has made an excellent start as number one pilot to Michael O’Brien and he partnered his second winner for the Naas handler since his appointment when Stashedaway outclassed her rivals in the Durkan New Homes Anaglog’s Daughter Mares Novice Chase.
“She’s a right filly, we went a good gallop, but she was only going a hack-canter”, said Russell.
Edward O’Grady’s General Montcalm stayed on doggedly to beat Castle Weir in the Bach Hunters Chase.
Castle Weir tried to make every post a winning one and looked sure to score early in the straight.
But General Montcalm found plenty for pressure, forging past the leader shortly after the final fence. It was a fifth success for rider, Roger Quinlan.
Market leader, Shackleton, was beaten early on the final circuit and was well out of contention when pulled up after five out. It subsequently transpired he had ‘burst’.
Willie Mullins’ newcomer, Major Vernon, a strapping son of Flemensfith, was all the rage for the Bumper and never gave his supporters any cause for concern.
Jamie Codd sent him for glory two furlongs down and Major Vernon swept clear to score by 11 lengths. He now heads directly to the Cheltenham Bumper, for which he was given a 12-1 quote by Cashmans.
Paddys Girl, driven into the lead going to the third last, stayed on dourly in the closing stages to beat Cotton Picker in the Horse and Jockey Handicap Hurdle.
Favourite Steel Band, who made most of the running and was still travelling well enough in second spot, lost all chance with a bad blunder three out.
