Workmanlike Twist fails to turn on the magic
In truth he is still nowhere near the horse he was when slamming Voy Por Ustedes in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, but the level he reached here was still more than sufficient.
Essentially, he was able to travel at half-speed for much of the journey, after brushing through the second fence.
Twist Magic got in a bit tight to the fourth last as well, but had no trouble hitting the lead coming away from three out for Ruby Walsh.
Between the final two fences, however, Walsh had to go for broke, as Tony McCoy threw the kitchen sink at Twist Magic’s stable companion, Natal.
Twist Magic still held the call over the last, but was none too good and had to be hard-driven all the way to the line to beat Natal by a length and three parts.
Mansony stayed on from behind to claim third, in front of Schindlers Hunt and always prominent Gemini Lucy.
Winning trainer, Paul Nicholls, said: “Ruby gave him a class ride and A P was great as well. Ruby was on the better horse, Natal is just a handicapper.
“I was a bit disappointed with Twist Magic before the race, Natal looked much better. I’m sure I can get Twist Magic looking better next season.
“This was always going to be a far more suitable track for him than Cheltenham and he will never have any chance over there if the ground is soft.
“I was going to wait for Sandown on Saturday, but the owners persuaded me to come here. He will be out on grass in two weeks time and could still run at Sandown. I want to talk to the man on board first.
“I put a tongue-tie on today to help his breathing and a noseband to make him concentrate. I am chuffed with Natal and he will continue to pay his way.”
Noel Meade struck a major blow in his bid to retain the trainers’ title when Jered cruised to victory in the vcbet.com Champion Novice Hurdle.
Completing a hat-trick of successes and confidently handled by Tony McCoy, Jered could be mapped as the likely winner a fair way out.
Ruby Walsh tried to make all on Fiveforthree, but the Cheltenham hero looked woefully short of pace once headed over the third last by Salford City.
Jered was soon in pursuit of Salford City and the issue wasn’t in doubt once he eased past before the final flight, scoring in a canter by eight lengths.
Commented Meade: “He did everything we hoped he might do. It was a blessing he didn’t go to Cheltenham because the ground was too testing.
“He is finished for the season now and we hope might go right to the top next season, he has that type of potential. There is a good calendar of events for him.”
Fiveforthree stayed on again to claim third spot, but a major step up in distance, and softer ground, is surely what’s required.
Willie Mullins said: “It was probably the ground and, although he was staying on at the end, it wasn’t enough of a test of stamina for him.
“I was delighted with his jumping and, as long as he comes out of it well, will run again on Friday in the two and a half miler.”
Sole English challenger, the Charlie Mann-trained Air Force One, ran his rivals ragged in the Ellier Developments Hanover Reach Champion Novice Chase.
He made every yard of the running and, dashingly ridden by Noel Fehilly, certainly put his rivals to the sword, striding right away from Pomme Tiepy from four out.
Said Mann: “Cheltenham was a total balls-up, I was gutted afterwards, but this makes up for it. For once I got it right after Cheltenham, avoiding Aintree and running him in a mickey-mouse race at Market Rasen.
“He will be up against it next season, but I’m looking forward to taking on the likes of Kauto Star!”
Ted Walsh and owner, Michael Ryan, on the mark with January at Cork on Sunday, did it again when combining to take the Ladies Cup over the banks with Wedger Pardy, second in the contest last year.
Ryan, of course, is best known as the owner of Finsceal Beo and Al Eile. Quipped Walsh: “He’s no Finsceal Beo or Al Eile, but did his job well. He’s about seventeen levels below them, but will turn out again here later in the week.”
Ross O’Sullivan had the ride, pushing his charge to the front well before the straight and Wedger Pardy already had the chasing Money Point’s measure when that one took a crashing fall at the final fence.
Bambootcha won her third race in-a-row with a remarkable late burst in the Gain Horse Feeds Handicap Hurdle.
Clear Riposte appeared sure to score when getting the best of the battle with Dreamy Gent coming away from the final flight, but Colm Murphy’s mare swooped in the dying strides, literally emerging from the clouds, to score going away by a neck.
It was a fine training feat by Murphy, considering Bambootcha hadn’t run since scoring at Clonmel way back in June.
Remarked Murphy: “We will keep her going over the summer. Hopefully, she will head for some of the better handicaps and could go to Galway.”
Willie Mullins’ newcomer Quiscover Fontaine, a 14-1 shot, stayed on dourly for his nephew, Emmet, to beat Fionn Tra in the Goffs’ Land Rover Bumper.
Another first-timer No Stopping Sarah, a 25-1 shot trained by Pat Fahy, forged ahead under a furlong down to take the Irish Sun Bumper.
* The attendance was 18,168, up from 17,974 a year ago.
