Stars align for Russell in heroic Neptune thriller
Well, it duly arrived in the shape of the imposing First Lieutenant, who battled like a lion to narrowly beat Rock On Ruby in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.
“This was my lucky day,” exclaimed trainer Mouse Morris, an obvious reference to the calamity which struck Oscars Well at the final flight.
Oscars Well had tanked through the contest and was looking the most likely winner when forging ahead on the run to the final flight.
But then fate reared its ugly head and the complexion of the race was changed in the twinkle of an eye.
Oscars Well held the call at the obstacle, just in front of Rock On Ruby, but lost his footing at the back of the flight, almost dislodging Robert Rower. His chance was immediately gone.
Rock On Ruby was soon powering ahead, but Russell had a willing partner in First Lieutenant.
And gradually they got there, finally closing down the leader in the dying strides to grab an heroic victory.
This was yet another marvellous success for Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud. Their policy is simple: buy horses with future chaser written all over them and anything that comes over hurdles is a bonus. It is a system that is currently working like a dream.
Morris has a terrific record at the festival, the highlight, of course, coming with Gigginstown’s War Of Attrition’s Gold Cup win 2006.
“Today was plan A, B, C…,” muttered Morris. “I was afraid the race might develop into a sprint. My horse has a high cruising speed, but is not a speed horse.
“I don’t know if he will run again this season. Next season it will be straight over fences. The plan will obviously be to come back here, but that’s a long way away and he has to stay sound.
“He stuck his head out in the right place and is a nice sort with a lovely temperament. It is worse watching than riding them. When you are riding you can get down and walk away.
“Davy gave him a great ride, although I don’t think I have ever seen a rider give a winning horse a bad drive!’
Russell was calmness personified through the Neptune and afterwards as well. He had the air of a man who felt he had done a proper job.
“My lad was economical at his jumps, but is not a hurdler, he’s a chaser’, he said. “I don’t know whether we were lucky or not, I had plenty of horse left going to the last.’
Michael O’Leary, who reported his father, Ted, as fighting cancer, said: “I think that’s our fourth winner (Carlito Brigante later made it five) at the festival and it feels as good as the first one.
“I didn’t think he had the experience to win, but Mouse thought he had. Davy gave him a peach of a ride and felt he was always going to win.
“There’s no such thing as a bad field at the festival. It’s very hard to win races here, so you have to enjoy it when you can.
“The Irish are doing well, but I’m pretty sure that by the end of the week the English will have beaten us and that will probably be the same when the rugby team arrives in Dublin on Saturday!’
