Mullins reigns Supreme in Hennessy
He had previously taken the contest four times with Florida Pearl and once with Alexander Banquet. Brilliant and all as Rule Supreme was, however, the real story of the contest was the lack-lustre performance of Beef Or Salmon, who looked a shadow of the horse who won the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas.
He always flies away from the back of the final fence, but was beaten before the obstacle on this occasion and it was no surprise when he subsequently scoped dirty.
Commented rider, Paul Carberry: “He wasn’t the same horse as the last day, although the winner was very good.
“I wasn’t happy from a long way out and had to give him a few slaps to wake him up.
“Hopefully, he will be back in time for the Gold Cup.”
But nothing should be taken from Rule Supreme, dashingly ridden by David Casey. This talented pilot only recently returned from injury, having broken his leg at Wexford on November 12.
He clearly has the key to the nine-year-old, who has been plagued by poor jumping over fences in the past. Indeed, Mullins had nominated the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham as the target for his charge, rather than the Gold Cup.
But this magnificent piece of riding on the part of Casey may well prompt Mullins to a change of heart. “I don’t like changing my mind”, he said.
Casey made his move going to the second last, sending Rule Supreme on the long run for home. Beef Or Salmom was soon in pursuit.
Uncharacteristically, though, Carberry had to get serious with him to go after Rule Supreme. Casey was quite content to allow Beef Or Salmon poke up his inside off the last turn and the pair turned in locked together.
The canny Casey, however, had saved plenty and Rule Supreme was much the stronger from before the final fence, exploding clear on the level to score by a whopping 14 lengths.
Said Casey: “He only made one mistake, on the far side, and it was my fault. He has never jumped better and did it well.”
Mullins indicated he will now have to give a lot of thought to aiming Rule Supreme at the Gold Cup. “I will have to talk to the owners”, he said.
“This is a lucky race for us, everything seems to go right. I gave David no instructions, he knows the horse well, I left the tactics up to him.
“This fellow has a huge engine and he rides him with great confidence. I realised how much of an engine he had one day in a schooling hurdle at Fairyhouse.
“He beat Florida Pearl. I was impressed, even though he was getting about two stone. I knew he had it in him, his jumping was the only problem.
“But he’s getting better and didn’t do much wrong today. There’s only one Gold Cup and I would love to have a go at it. I will leave him in both races and not make a decision until the last minute.”
Beef Or Salmon was slightly hampered when the mistake-prone Pizarro departed five out, but lost little ground. Michael Hourigan appeared shell-shocked at the manner in which Beef Or Salmon had cut out. “I haven’t much to say”, he muttered initially.
“A good horse beat him and it is back to the drawing board. Paul told me he knew he was beaten at the second last and that he gurgled turning for home. I am not using that as an excuse.”
The subsequent scope of Beef Or Salmon, of course, revealed the true story. Most firms shortened Best Mate for the Gold Cup, as Beef Or Salmon galloped out in the betting. He is 7-1 from 5’s with Paddy Power, both Cashmans and Grahams doubled his odds to 10-1 and Boylesports went 8-1 from 5’s.
Rule Supreme is 12-1, from 25-1, with Paddy Power, 14-1 from 33-1 with Grahams, 12-1 with Cashmans - 8-1 with a run, and 16-1, from 33’s, with Boylesports.
