Defy Logic takes the glory as Fever blunders away chance
The pair went toe-to-toe from the start, with no quarter asked or given. Defy Logic got in tight to the third last, but recovered in a flash and bounded down to two out still a major threat to the favourite.
Rising to the obstacle, Champagne Fever held a narrow lead and did appear to be going just about the better.
But he battered into the fence and was immediately beaten, as Trifolium stayed on to claim second spot.
“I’m delighted, he has now won his Grade 1”, said trainer, Paul Nolan. “I was afraid he might be one of those highly thought of horses, who never won a Grade 1.
“It is great to have no excuses. Mark decided to bounce out with him and if they went with us they went with us.
“I’m hoping he will be okay in the morning, because he does hit the ground very hard. If he’s alright then the plan would be to come back here for the Arkle. I would not run him on ground any better than today.”
Any notion, however, that the surface might rule Defy Logic out of Cheltenham was quickly dismissed by Nolan.
“The ground at Cheltenham will be fine”, he said. “I have walked the course for the last few years and do they do a great job there.”
Defy Logic is owned by J P McManus, who also saw his colours carried to victory by My Tent Or Yours in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.
Ladbrokes pushed Champagne Fever out to 5-1, from 3’s, for the Arkle at Cheltenham, while Boylesports offered 4-1. Both firms made Defy Logic a 10-1 shot.
Willie Mullins’ French recruit, Analifet, who was so impressive in her two outings over flights since coming to Ireland, went off long odds-on in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle.
She set out to make the running, but suffered an apparent pelvic injury after the third and had to be pulled up by Davy Russell.
Reported Mullins: “She has a suspected fractured pelvis and will stand in her box for twelve weeks, but will be okay. She won’t run again this season.”
Clarcam, like the unfortunate favourite, carrying the colours of Gigginstown House Stud, was soon blazing along in the lead, but had no answer to Guitar Pete, who cruised past going to the last.
Dessie Hughes said of Guitar Pete: “He’s a smashing little horse and it is great to see him winning a decent prize.
“He stays well and is good and tough. I don’t know what will be next, maybe a handicap. He will go to Cheltenham for either the Triumph Hurdle or the Fred Winter.”
Bryan Cooper partnered Guitar Pete and was also on the mark when bringing King Vuvuzela, initiating a double for Paul Nolan, from behind to win the Racing Post All You Need For Irish Racing Handicap Chase.
Cooper, typically, produced his charge with a powerful challenge to sweep clear from the final fence.
Said a delighted Nolan: “They went such a pace, you were hoping would stop in front. He won well in the end, Bryan gave him a great ride.”
Those who traded at very short odds Willie Mullins’ Clondaw Court, in the Bookmakers’ Bar At Bewleys Hotel Maiden Hurdle, will have been most uncomfortable for much of the contest.
He was none too clever two out, and again at the last, as Little Rocky made the best of his way home.
But gradually the winner got on terms, with Ruby Walsh forcing him up on the line to score by a head.
“I’m happy he has got through that”, said Mullins. “Ruby should probably have made the running, I’d say we will be stepping him up in trip fairly quickly.”
Pat Fahy went to Limerick and missed seeing his Western Boy land the Thorntons’ Recycling Maiden Hurdle.
Partnered by David Casey, the winner surged ahead going to the final flight to easily beat Kylestyle and the disappointing front-runner, Daneking.
Commented Casey: “He did it well and is a good horse. Pat gave him a chance, I didn’t want to be in front so early, but he quickened well.”
Charles Byrnes’ Sea Light was all the rage for the Copper Face Jacks Handicap Hurdle and toyed with his rivals in the hands of Davy Russell, who was landing his 1000th winner on the track.
Always travelling, Sea Light coasted ahead before the final flight to beat Beneficial Spirit with lots in hand.
“He had a lovely weight and the bit of nice ground helped’, remarked Byrnes. “He’s in here again on Sunday, but the forecast is bad, so we’ll see.”
Gordon Elliott’s Noble Endeavor (25-1), who showed little over flights at Navan previously and ridden by David O’Leary, stormed clear from the furlong pole to beat Dermot Weld’s Windsor Park in the Bumper.
* The attendance was 14,802, as against 14,091 last year.
