Flyer wins spine-tingler

Moscow Flyer won his big showdown with Azertyuiop in a thrilling battle for the William Hill Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown this afternoon.

Sent off the 2-1 second-favourite, the Irish raider jumped to the front three fences from home and ran on strongly to defeat Azertyuiop (5-6) by a length and a half, to the roars of an enthusiastic crowd.

Arkle Trophy winner Well Chief ran a blinder, coming home a short head further back in third.

Moscow Flyer jumped off at the head of affairs under Barry Geraghty but was soon passed by Cenkos, who set a furious pace passing the stands for the first time.

Cenkos led heading into the back straight with Moscow Flyer sitting in second, watched closely by Ruby Walsh aboard Azertyuiop, who was settled in third.

Walsh kept Moscow Flyer in his sights over the Railway fences and looked to be travelling the best over the Pond fence, but the pair could not get to the winner – who is now unbeaten in his 16 completed jumps starts.

Well Chief tracked the leaders and had a tooth-and-nail battle with Azertyuiop up the run-in, but had to settle for third spot.

Moscow Flyer was following up his victory in the Tingle Creek last year, when he had beaten Azertyuiop by four lengths.

Geraghty told Channel 4: “It is great to have a horse like this – he is the man. He missed the third-last completely and then winged the final two fences. Nothing was going to get by him and he was looking around and having a laugh.

“He gave me a better feel throughout the race today than he ever had before. I don’t think he needs to prove himself over three miles in the King George because he is a champion.”

Trainer Jessica Harrington said: “He is brilliant and is a star.

“He took the race by the scruff of the neck today and said come and catch me - and they couldn’t catch him.

“I know that he does nothing in front and Barry is always convinced that he has more in there. He gave him a couple of smacks around the backside before he winged the last and just kept him going up the straight.

“They were going to have to sprout wings to get past him. This is the greatest feeling in the world and whoever had been standing in front of me would have known where Moscow was. In fact they probably heard me in Moscow!”

And when asked if Moscow Flyer would be seen at Kempton on Stephen's Day for the King George, Mrs Harrington replied: “I don’t know – we’ll have to see what happens. It would be nice but the horse comes first and we will take him where he can do his best.”

Winning owner Brian Kearney added: “I think that was the best race ever – it was marvellous. It has been a dream. He is the first horse I have ever owned and I can’t describe it.

“Azertyuiop and Well Chief are fantastic horses and they have all given the crowd exactly what they wanted. But our fellow is older and Azertyuiop’s day will come.”

Paul Nicholls said of the runner-up: “There will be another day. He just lost a length and a half at the wrong time when the winner stole some ground. The annoying thing is, that’s what we were going to do.

“He cruised up there and Ruby’s had to take a pull, probably at the wrong time, but we’ve been beaten by a better horse on the day and I’ve no excuses.”

Walsh added: “It is disappointing to be beaten but we were beaten by a very good horse. Fair play to the Harringtons, the owner and Barry.

“He was only beaten a length and a half, but was beaten four lengths last year and we will take him on again at Cheltenham.

“Somebody has to win and somebody has to get beat, but he jumped great all of the way round.”