Roque rolls back the years
Dashingly handled by Paul Townend, he took over from front-running Roi Du Mee jumping the seventh from home.
Roi Du Mee was all the rage in the market, but, hard as Davy Russell tried, could never get in a real blow at the winner, who crossed the line a comfortable six and a half lengths clear.
Murphy said: “I’m delighted, he has taken time to come to himself this season.
“He’s in the Hennessy (Leopardstown), so we will see what the lads (Gigginstown, owners) want to do.
“We’re hoping he might be a Hennessy, a Gold Cup or a National horse, the dream lives on.”
Stan James slashed Quito De La Roque’s price for the Gold Cup from 100-1 to half those odds.
Unlucky horse of the contest was Days Hotel, unbeaten in his three previous races over fences.
Partnered with restraint by Andrew Lynch, he improved to track the principals heading to three out, apparently full of running, but then stumbled badly at the back of the obstacle, almost coming to a standstill. It subsequently transpired that he suffered an overreach.
The other Grade 2 on the card, the Fame And Glory And Sans Frontieres Coolmore National Hunt Sires EBF Mares’ Novice Chase, was won in game fashion by Jimmy Mangan’s Noras Fancy.
She was holding all the aces heading to the final fence, but got in deep to the obstacle, giving Dangan Daylight a real chance.
But Jimmy’s son, Patrick, gathered her together in a flash and she battled back to beat Dangan Daylight by half a length.
Said Mangan senior: “She’s a course winner and that helped, but soft ground is the key to her.
“I honestly thought we were up against it, she will now stick to mares’ races.”
Long odds-on Tarla began to struggle across the top of the track and appeared to be holding only place prospects when taking a heavy fall two out.
Willie Mullins, who trains Tarla, allowed himself a massive sigh of relief after his often-clumsy Mikael d’Haguenet produced a near faultless round of jumping to win the WT O’Grady Memorial EBF Novice Chase.
Ruby Walsh allowed him pop away in his own time and the winner eased to the front in effortless fashion coming away from the third last.
Mikael d’Haguenet was slightly awkward over the final fence, but it was of no consequence and he eased away to beat He’llberemembered by 12 lengths.
Said Mullins: “I will try and keep him to this trip. He will be aimed at the Power Gold Cup at Fairyhouse and will have entries at Cheltenham.
“I don’t know whether he will travel, he might have another run before March and we’ll see then.”
Mullins and Walsh teamed up for a double when Ballycasey toyed with the opposition in the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Novice Hurdle.
Backed from evens to 4-6, the grey son of Presenting eased ahead off the home turn and Walsh barely had to move a muscle to beat Milborough by an unflattering three lengths.
“I was worried the ground might be too soft, but he is progressing lovely,” reported Mullins.
“He will be entered in the Neptune and the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham and might have one more run before that.”
The champion trainer completed a treble when his son, Patrick, guided the venerable 13-year-old Equus Maximus to a hard fought victory over Oscar Delta and Goonyella in the Arctic Tack Stud Hunters Chase.
“He will now get entries in all the big hunter chases, at Cheltenham, Aintree, Fairyhouse and Punchestown,” said Mullins senior.
Equus Maximus, rather ironically, was bred by Jimmy Mangan, who saddled the runner up.
Those who traded at short odds on Mullins’ French-import Djkadam were left cursing their luck after the www.thurlesraces.ie Maiden Hurdle.
Walsh got him to the front early in the straight and they looked to just about have the measure of the challenging Francis Flood-trained Kilmainham rising to the last.
But Djakadam hit the top of the flight and then stumbled on landing, with Walsh failing to keep the partnership intact. Kilmainham was left in front to easily beat Top Of The Ra.
Fran Flood represented his father and said: “He ran well in a couple of maidens, but disappointed in a handicap last time at Leopardstown. Willie’s was home and hosed, we’d have been happy to be placed.”
Mark Enright continued his upward curve when powering Sherika ahead coming away from the second last to easily land the Leugh Handicap Hurdle.
