Quazar is back in front!
Back In Front, brilliant winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and successful here on Tuesday was very uneasy in the market, touching 4-5 before lodging at 8-11.
The market got it spot-on. In The Forge, normally a hold-up horse, set a scorching gallop and there was no hiding place for those doing the chasing.
Back In Front travelled well in second place, but had to be bustled along by Norman Williamson to go past In The Forge on the run to the last.
Tony Dobbin was now getting a generous response from Quazar, although they still had about a length to make up on the favourite over the flight.
But Quazar is a battler and he put his head down in typical fashion. Gradually he got on terms and was well on top in the final hundred yards.
"I was always going to win once we jumped the last”, reported Dobbin. Commented trainer, John Joe O’Neill: "He’s a tough old devil. We didn’t know who was going to make it, but knew we weren’t.
"He loves to pass horses, pricks his ears and just does enough. He’s been a very lucky horse.
"We have schooled him over fences, but he will probably start off over hurdles next season.
“If it doesn’t work out then he can go chasing. The problem, of course, is he’s not very big.”
Said Edward O’Grady of Back In Front: "He’s run a good race. I’m happy enough, but would have been happier if he’d won.”
In-form trainer, Paul Nolan, has ambitious plans for Torduff Boy, following the gelding’s victory in the S M Morris Ltd Handicap Chase.
"He jumps so well that we are thinking of running him in either the Topham or the National at Aintree next year”, said Nolan.
Barry Geraghty drove the winner ahead going to the last and Torduff Boy was always holding the unlucky Michael Mor close home. Michael Mor was cruising when getting it wrong three out.
He was back challenging again at the last, but jumped violently to his left, lost several lengths, and could never quite make up the deficit.
"This fellow has been a great servant”, said Nolan of Torduff Boy. "He’s an easy horse to train, he trains himself.
"Barry called the tactics today. I wanted him to be in the first three or four, but he said it would be better to drop him out. Barry was right.”
Ruby Walsh, fresh from two Grade One successes on Thursday for Paul Nicholls, teamed up with Willie Mullins to take another Grade One, the Menolly Homes Champion Novice Hurdle, on Nobody Told Me.
This rapidly improving mare was completing a three-timer and she eased on over the second last. From that point nothing could ever get in a blow and she coasted home a comfortable five lengths to the good over Jack High.
"Every drop of rain that fell benefitted her”, said Mullins. "When my horses were sick, she was the sickest of all.”
Edward O’Grady’s Pizarro was a big order in the ring, finding 11-8 from 2-1.
But he was hugely disappointing, finding precious little when the questions were popped by Norman Williamson.
David Casey, who won a nice pot earlier in the week on Rule Supreme, was on the mark again when 16-1 shot Incas took the Mountbrook Homes Handicap Chase.
Top weight Fiery Ring got a smooth run through on the inside turning for home to lead, as Casey brought Incas wide, looking for better ground.
It was a ploy destined to succeed, with Incas landing in front at the last and then staying on strongly to go clear close home.
"I’m not surprised, I was very sweet on his chances”, reported winning trainer, Arthur Moore.
"Two runs back he was going really well when falling at Thurles.
“This is a great thrill, the owners have been very patient and one of them is my mother.”
