Missed That digs deep to take bumper
You couldn't but admire the performance of the imposing six-year-old, who pulled much too hard through the contest for his own good.
“He must be a real racehorse”, said winning rider, Ruby walsh, getting off the mark for the week. “The way he pulled through the race, he should have cut out coming down the hill.”
But the son of Overbury is clearly something special and instead of waving the white flag, he got down and battled like a lion when the going got tough.
Walsh drove him for all he was worth up the straight, holding on for dear life close home to beat De Soto and Rasharrow a neck and three parts of a length.
For trainer, Willie Mullins, it continued his remarkable record in this contest and Missed That gave him his fifth success, one of them, of course, coming with Florida Pearl.
Said Mullins: “I don't want to compare him with Florida Pearl, but we are very pleased. I was worried passing the stands, he was pulling so hard.
“Maybe we will make more use of him in the future, to make things easier on the horse. He will now go for the championship bumper at Punchestown.
“I can't wait for him to go jumping. He has grown up so much over the last three or four months.”
Owners Graham and Andrea Wylie and jockey Graham Lee, who enjoyed their first Festival success on Tuesday with Arcalis, doubled the tally when No Refuge battled on resolutely to grab the Royal and SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.
Trained by Howard Johnson, as was Arcalis, No Refuge powered past the flattering Racing Demon close home to score by three parts of a length.
Commented Johnson: “I have bought five horses form Mark Prescott and they have all won. This fellow is a real street-fighter, but was not a natural when we first popped him over hurdles.
“The penny, however, has dropped over the past two weeks and he schooled well over one hurdle at home yesterday morning!”
Said Lee: “He is so tough. His heart is in the right place and he really tries. Going to the third last I was happy enough, but when they kicked he was caught a bit flat-footed. But he really stay ed on again from the turn in.”
Best of the Irish was the largely unconsidered Willie Mullins trained Our Ben, who left a poor effort at Fairyhouse previously well behind.
He was only seventh into the straight, but powered home better than anything else to claim a creditable third spot.
“I'm delighted with the way he finished, he jumped like a chaser”, reported Mullins.
“He pulled too hard and was shuffled back at the third or fourth and had just two behind him. He's not an easy ride and his three wins have all come on right-handed tracks.
“I've always said he's a chaser in the making and am looking forward to bringing him back here next year for the SunAlliance.”
Tom Foley's fears that Royal Paradise, as a five-year-old, might be too young proved well founded. He moved nicely on the heels of the front-running Gold Medallist for much of the journey, but was beaten down hill to the home turn.
Dermot Weld's Queen Astrid was even more disappointing. She began to back-pedal as early as half way.
Trabolgan landed a cracking Royal and SunAlliance Novice Chase for Nicky Henderson and Mick Fitzgerald.
Favourite Comply Or Die made a brave attempt from the front, but Trabolgan, who erred two out, found loads for pressure to master the leader on the approach to the final fence.
Commented Fitzgerald: “We've always had a warm opinion of him and it is really good he has finally done what we thought he could do.
“Coming to the meeting we felt he was our best chance and I am so pleased for the horse. I thought he was gone at the second last.”
Henderson said: “He's a lovely, lovely horse. Experience is what he he has been lacking and that showed at times today. He is still learning, still a baby.”
Christy Roche's Like-A-Butterfly, absent since pulling up at Leopardstown at Christmas, emerged from the contest with credit.
She jumped and travelled well throughout, eventually finishing fifth, but wasn't helped when the winner blundered and came across in front of her at the second last.
Henderson added to his gains with Trabolgan when saddling Juveigneur to beat stable companion, Lord Of The River, in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase.
From an Irish point of view the unlucky horse of the contest was Davy Fitzgerald's Pearly Jack. He apppeared to be full of running, right on the heels of the leaders, when brought down at the third last.
Mallow-born Alan O'Keeffe enjoyed his initial Festival success when guiding 33-1 shot Idole First to take the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle.
Said O'Keeffe: “I have wanted this for ever and it is brilliant. He got a bit outpaced down the back, but kept going well and has beaten some good horses. It is unbelievable.”
Ireland's tally after two days stands at a more than respectable five winners.
