New king on the block
For his largely unheralded Maynooth Co Kildare handler, John Carr, it was an extraordinary training performance and a superb display from the saddle by Philip Carberry. Both men were enjoying a first ever Festival winner.
Sublimity had been a major ante-post gamble, tumbling down from as high as 100-1 with some bookmakers. Indeed, his owner, Bill Hennessy, availed of 600-1 on the exchanges.
Carr had huge faith in his charge, who was a very smart sort on the flat. Most observers, however, believed he was being overly optimistic, on the basis Sublimity had some 30lbs to find with last year’s champion, Brave Inca.
“I don’t know what it’s like to win an All-Ireland in Croke Park, but I cannot believe it is any better than this,” smiled Carr, after he had just defied all logic.
Sublimity, for instance, is rated 13lbs below Desert Quest in Friday’s County Hurdle and Desert Quest wasn’t rated good enough by Paul Nicholls to contest the Champion Hurdle.
“Everything went according to plan,” revealed Carr, who has just 30 horses in his care. “They went too fast for their own good and it played into our hands.
“We were the best flat horse and had the speed. I knew when they went that terrible gallop, he’d go close with his finishing speed.
“I would have been disappointed if he had run badly and this is what dreams are made of. He was great value and the owner had a small amount on at 600-1 before Christmas and backed him all the way down.
“We bought him for 32,000 guineas at Newmarket and the first day he ran we got the money back. We stopped milking cows last year, they are an easier job than this, I think.”
Carr confirmed that Sublimity will defintiely not run in the County Hurdle.
Hardy Eustace carried the field along, but was never travelling the way he can. Reported rider, Conor O'Dwyer: “I don’t know what it was. I knew I was in trouble going out for the last time. Then he made a mistake down the back and that’s just not him. I knew I couldn't win from a long way out.”
Hardy Eustace, to his credit, stuck at it, but it was soon apparent that Brave Inca, what a race he ran, was certainly going to finish in front of his old rival.
Brave Inca, briefly, looked like winning early in the straight, but there was only going to be one outcome once Carberry let loose on Sublimity.
Said 26-year-old Carberry: “I’ve never ridden a horse like him and can’t imagine there being one better.
“I am very lucky to be on one like this, I always knew he had huge potential and it was crunch time from the last.
“But he went away and battled well. We had a dream run throughout and I even had the luxury of taking a pull down the hill.
“I’ve won some big races, but the Champion Hurdle means an awful lot. Cheltenham is like the All-Ireland final.
“I was so excited before the race, because I thought I would actually win. He’s the best I’ve ridden and probably the best I ever will. He’s class and better over hurdles than he was on the flat.”
William Hill immediately installed Sublimity as 5-1 favourite for next year’s Champion Hurdle. They bet 5-1 Sublimity, 10-1 Detroit City, Brave Inca, 12-1 Hardy Eustace, 14-1 bar. Cashmans, however, make Sublimity a 7-1 shot.
Colm Murphy was far from downbeat, following Brave Inca’s defeat. “The winner was exceptional,” remarked Murphy sportingly.
“Brave Inca ran a cracker and I am thrilled to bits, he has run his heart out. That will probably be it for the year. We went to Punchestown last year, but that was a mistake.”
Dessie Hughes said of his old warrior, Hardy Eustace: “I thought it was a hell of a race. He never got a chance of a breather, unlike other years. He could go to Punchestown now and won’t be retired, but all good things come to an end.”
Detroit City, a massive punt in the ring, performed deplorably. He had to be pushed along from an early stage by Richard Johnson and again looked a damned hard ride. He eventually finished a well beaten sixth.
His trainer, Philip Hobbs, was totally perplexed. Commented Hobbs: “It’s very disappointing, he was favourite and got stuffed.
“Richard got off and said the horse can’t have been right, so we’ll have to see. There’s probably something amiss, but we will find out in the next few days.
“He can normally cope with a fast pace, but was never going. It is not the end of the world and the horse is still alive, but it is something you build for all season.”
Noel Meade’s Iktitaf appeared to be full of running, he is a horse who does his best work on the bridle, when crashing out three from home. Straw Bear, who was pulled up, broke a blood vessel.
