Supreme shockas Ebaziyanstuns punters
It would an understatement to say he had little or no chance before the race, having come here on the back of a moderate win in a maiden at Thurles.
To put that effort into context, Jumeirah Scarer, who dead-heated with Dancing Hero for second, a length behind Ebaziyan, made no show at Fairyhouse last Saturday.
But Willie Mullins’ inmate, formerly a useful sort on the level for John Oxx, stepped way up on that to swamp the market-leaders, Granit Jack and Amaretto Rose.
Granit Jack was always on the pace and turned in strongly challenged by Amaretto Rose. Condon, however, had Ebaziyan poised for an effort and he came between horses after the final flight to sweep clear.
“It didn’t go right at the start, we wanted to be in the first eight and instead were in the last five,” said Mullins, enjoying a tenth win at the Festival.
“Of all the horses I brought here, I didn’t think he would win. We hoped to be in the first three, but would have settled for the first six.
“Davy has given him a terrific ride, I am delighted with him, after it went wrong in the first two or three furlongs.
“I thought a lot of this horse last year, but he broke his pelvis. I brought him back in a maiden hurdle at Cork and then ran him too quickly at Thurles. I’d imagine, Punchestown will be next.
“I reckoned there was a lot of improvement to come and took a chance here. I felt he jumped well, watching on television, but Davy said he wasn’t foot-perfect.”
Said Condon: “That’s great, I can’t believe it. I couldn’t believe how well he was going.
Coming here today we didn’t have much confidence, but he has done it really well.
“I was too far back, but it has all worked out in the end. This is a brilliant buzz. I thought I had got there a bit too soon, because he doesn’t do much in front, but luckily he battled really well.”
Condon, found guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency, was suspended for two days. One doubts that will in any way spoil the party for a young man who comes from Glengoura, near Conna, Co Cork.
His father, Mick, was a top class point-to-point rider in his day and mother, Susan, is a sister of Timmy and Bob Townsend. Boylesports gave Ebaziyan a 20-1 quote for next year’s Champion Hurdle.
Amaretto Rose was backed as if defeat was out of the question in the ring and came with every chance approaching the last. But she simply did not get up the hill, at least not well enough.
My Way de Solzen, trained by the very talented Alan King, produced a brilliant exhibition of jumping and power-packed running to take the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy.
He is a particularly smashing horse, considering he landed the three mile Stayers’ Hurdle here a year ago and, yet, had the speed and class to drop down to two miles over fences.
His technique was a joy to watch and he hardly gave Chocolate Thornton a moments cause for concern.
My Way de Solzen was tanking at all stages, eased into the lead off the home turn and then burst clear.
King indicated that he could be the best horse he has ever trained. Said King: “I try to keep calm most of the time, but can never cope when I run this horse.
“It’s been a pretty nerve-wracking 48 hours and I am just glad we got it right (he had a choice of engagements).
“This is the best I have trained so far and he’s probably the best I will ever have. That was a special performance, to drop down from three to two.
“I’ve got all sort of problems for next year now. Is it the Queen Mother or the Gold Cup, here we go again?
“I ran him in the Arkle because I felt the ground was slow enough and it was the right decision..
“Choc gave him a beautiful ride and I’m obviously thrilled, but it is relief more than anything which is kicking in now.”'
Commented Thornton: “I was slightly worried two out, it's a desperate fence. I panicked a little, but got away with it. He picked himself up, Alan is a great trainer.”
Cashmans go 14-1 My Way de Solzen for the 2008 Gold Cup, while William Hill make him 10-1 for that and 8-1 for the Champion Chase.
The two unlucky horses of the contest were Don’t Push It and Twist Magic, especially the latter.
They both fell two out when close up. Don’t Push It may have just been feeling the pinch, but that certainly didn’t look the case with Ruby Walsh’s mount, who seemed to have had lots of gas in the tank! “I would have won,” declared Walsh
Nina Carberry rounded of a terrific day for her family when guiding Enda Bolger’s Heads Onthe Ground to a smooth victory in the Sporting Index Chase.
Nina was perfection, easing her charge through on the inside off the home turn to quickly scamper clear. She was previously successful aboard Dabiroun in the juvenile handicap hurdle two years ago.
Commented Bolger: “Nina rode a brilliant race and deserves all the credit. She was squeezed up at one point, but is some rider, and that seemed to wake the horse up.”
Said Nina: “If you could have these days every day it would be great. The gap was there turning into the straight andd that’s the way race-riding goes.”
Davy Russell rode his second Festival winner, his first was on Native Jack a year ago, when Joes Edge grabbed a last-gasp victory over Juveigneur and Distant Thunder in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase.
“That’s a pure shock,” said Russell. “Ferdy (Murphy, trainer) thought he’d need the run. He left it to myself and I'm glad he did, otherwise I would have gone for the horse earlier.”
Three days after winning the Imperial Cup at Sandown, the David pipe-trained Gaspara, carrying the colours of his father, Martin, earned a £75,000 bonus when running away with the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle. The bonus was put up by Sunderlands for any horse winning the Imperial Cup and an event at the Festival.
