Bookies take flight as Moscow wings in
That's what Brian Kearney did and yesterday his horse Moscow Flyer probably did more damage to pension and investment fund managers than Osama bin Laden.
"Take the money out of the pension fund" that's what I tell people. "I've had so much enjoyment out of this it's incredible.
The nine-year-old champion has given a huge mount of pride and pleasure to his 62-year-old owner and his wife Patricia and their family. Indeed, it was the family who were behind the buying of the horse, according to trainer Jess Harrington, because they wanted Brian to have "something other than golf" to keep him occupied in his retirement.
On a day which might have doubled as St. Patrick's Day such was the the Irish influence, the Kearney family capped it off with another banker and, with Moscow Flyer having obliged under Barry Geraghty at a heavily backed 7/4, the bookies were running for cover. Xenophon's win in the Coral Cup took further millions from the ring having been backed from nines to 4/1, while Hardy Eustace in the opener also had his supporters at 6/1.
But it was Moscow Flyer's dominance in the Queen Mother Champion Chase his second successive Cheltenham victory over the minimum distance that was the highlight of the day and everyone associated with the horse (practically every punter in Ireland) hailed home the hero with the sort of vigour only the Irish seem to be able to muster.
God only knows what will happen today if Limestone Lad wins.
"I've been going racing since I was a young fella," Kearney recounted in the Winners' Enclosure, "but I never dreamt that anything like this would happen to me. I bought the horse five years ago after I had tried to put a syndicate together but which never came off for one reason or another. A friend of one of my sons had organised a syndicate and when I saw how much fun and how much joy it generated, I knew I'd have to either start one myself or get a horse.
"Then I went to the sales with Jessica and she was outbid for a few things she liked, but she got this fella and he was one she had picked out beforehand because she liked the look of him. That's how I got him.
"I went along with £20,000 to spend and he cost £17,000 and it's the best investment I've ever made.
"I know that most owners are never lucky enough to experience this sort of thing and Jessica tells me that in comparison to most owners that I'm learning in reverse, but it's just hard to take in really," the overjoyed owner contended.
"I'm 62 and on days like today I feel 42. I am retired, but I'm the President of the Institute of Engineers and that keeps me busy. I also went to Belvedere, so I hope the old boys were cheering the school colours home again this afternoon."
For his part, Barry Geraghty received his prize from Princess Anne with a smile as wide as the Boyne estuary near his Drumree home in Meath.
As the leading jockey at the festival with three winners now, the 23-year-old was in no doubt that this was not only his most important ride, but also his most impressive. Despite the fact that nearest challengers Latalomne and the Robbie Fowler and Steve MaManaman owned Seebald fell at the last, Geraghty maintained that he would have won anyway.
"He made a bit of a mistake at the fourth last, the ditch, but that was only because he was travelling so well up at the top of the hill. He didn't have to do a stroke after the second last because there was nothing with him," he recalled.
For each way backers there was further joy with Native Upmanship's run to a seven length second place piling further misery on the bookies who were already complaining of 'liquidation' and 'melt-down'.
The usually unflappable trainer, Arthur Moore, professed himself to be absolutely thrilled with his charge's performance.
"He was beaten by a champion and I have to say I thought that Moscow Flyer would win this race after he won the Arkle last year and I'm proud to be second to him. My fellow ran the best race of his life and travelled very well. I think Aintree last year made a man of him and he'll go there again," Moore said.
If there was a blackspot for the Irish it was the failure of 2/1 favourite Pizarro in the Royal and SunAlliance Hurdle. Despite the fact that Eddie O'Grady's horse was heavily backed, there were no real complaints when Dessie Hughes' Hardy Eustace trotted in at a well-supported 6/1.
The Irish were thus already on a roll before Moscow Flyer took up the cudgels and when Xenophon, under the expert hands of Mick Fitzgerald, landed another massive gamble, the bookies were not just cowed, they were being hammered.
Trainer Tony Martin, who was at the centre of the Davids Lad controversy which will be resolved finally in the High Court today, said that he was hopeful of a second victory today.
"If justice is done, we'll win and it will be sorted out one way or another so he can run in the Grand National."
As far as the punters were concerned justice was done yesterday and not a judge in sight. Just a depleted pension fund and a flyer a Moscow Flyer.
