McCoy synchs Lexus rivals
The best we have to offer were on view here and none of them could get in any sort of blow at Jonjo O’Neill’s English invader, Synchronised.
Now Synchronised is clearly decent in his own right, but has never been mentioned in the same breath across channel as the likes of Long Run and Kauto Star.
Ruby Walsh took them along, for a while, at a sedate pace on Noland, until Rubi Light jumped to the front over the eighth from home.
Rubi Light still held the call approaching the home turn, but Tony McCoy soon drove up his inside, powered Synchronised ahead well before the final fence and the eight-year-old quickly forged clear.
Rubi Light kept going to hold second, with the disappointing well-backed favourite, Quito De La Roque, appearing woefully one-paced in third.
O’Neill didn’t come to Leopardstown, preferring Leicester instead, and was represented by McManus’ racing manager, Frank Berry.
Said Berry: “His last two runs over hurdles were good, but we thought the ground here was too quick.
“He could have gone for the Welsh National at Chepstow on Tuesday, but that would have been a hard slog with 11-11.
“He made a few mistakes down the back, but Tony gave him a fantastic ride.
“We will think about the Gold Cup now and he will have an entry in the English National as well.
“He probably won’t run before Cheltenham, having had a hard enough race today.
“Tony felt he handled the ground great. We won’t be getting carried away, but it is nice to celebrate.”
Synchronised gave owner, J P McManus, his first ever success in the Lexus, while McCoy was adding to his win on Exotic Dancer, also trained by O’Neill, in 2008.
Any doubts about Voler La Vedette staying three miles were completely washed away when she trounced Mourad in the Grade 2 woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle.
Mourad made his bid for glory heading to two out and gave everything in an attempt to drag the winner off the bridle.
But Andrew Lynch had the leader well covered and Voler La Vedette eased past before the final flight to score unextended by four and three quarter lengths.
Trainer, Colm Murphy, said: “We have had a great run with her this season and she still has loads of options.
“If the ground was soft then she could go back to two miles. I’m not sure if she will go to Cheltenham, there are plenty of good races here at home.”
Voler La Vedette has been left in the Istabraq Hurdle at the track today, but Murphy indicated it was “unlikely” would run.
Willie Mullins’ Make Your Mark, so impressive when winning his bumper at Punchestown, made a spectacular start over flights in the Madigans Maiden Hurdle.
Truth to tell he never came out of second gear for Davy Russell, who allowed him stride on early on the final circuit.
Make Your Mark threw a huge leap over two out and then bounded clear up the straight to beat Competitive Edge by ten lengths.
“Davy was very pleased, he jumps and stays”, said Mullins.
“I told him not to worry if there was no pace and to go on. The novice hurdle route is the plan now.”
