Flyer warms up for Cheltenham with win

Moscow Flyer muddied the waters of the Queen Mother Champion Chase betting further at Punchestown this afternoon with a spring-heeled, if slightly workmanlike display in the Byrne Group Plc Tied Cottage Chase.

With Well Chief’s terrific performance at Cheltenham yesterday having consolidated his position as a serious two-miler, and Azertyuiop to appear shortly at Newbury, much was expected of the 11-year-old, who beat both of them in December’s thrilling renewal of the Tingle Creek Chase.

Sent off the 2-11 favourite, the Jessica Harrington-trained gelding had to make all of the running under Barry Geraghty and was foot-perfect at almost all of his fences on his way to a two and a half length success.

Moscow Flyer’s only worry came when he appeared to idle before the last obstacle of the Grade Three contest, and the novice Steel Band, a 33-1 shot, looked to be a danger, but Geraghty only had to keep him up to his work and he quickened clear again.

“I am delighted with the way that he jumped, it was absolutely brilliant,” said Harrington.

“He had no company, and Barry says that when he makes the running he will never win far and only does as much as he has to.

“It is only when he gets into a really good fast-run race that he shows his true mettle.

“I was more nervous today than before the Tingle Creek, but it is now all systems go for Cheltenham.”

Ladbrokes cannot decide which of the big three to side with for the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March, and quote Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop and Well Chief at 2-1 co-favourites.

“We can’t split them and we’re going to let punters tells us who should be clear favourite,” said the firm’s spokesman Balthazar Fabricius.

“We thought Well Chief’s performance was simply outstanding and he deserves to share joint favouritism with the previous Queen Mother Champions.”

Cashmans did not change their odds, and Moscow Flyer remained at the head of the market at 6-4, while totesport decided just to cut Well Chief into 5-2 from 11-4.

Their spokesman Damian Walker said: “Moscow Flyer probably idled in front, but there’s no doubt that Well Chief was the more impressive of the two weekend winners and we have cut his price accordingly.

“Steel Band ran a blinder to finish second to Moscow Flyer and is 25-1 from 40s for the Arkle Chase.”

Coral were more impressed with the performance, and Moscow Flyer remains their 2-1 second favourite behind Azertyuiop .

Representative Simon Clare said: “Small fields never bring out the best in Moscow Flyer so he deserves to maintain his prominent position in the Champion Chase market.”

“It seems incredible that despite Best Mate going for a fourth Gold Cup win, many people will view the clash between Azertyuiop, Moscow Flyer and Well Chief as the star attraction of this year’s Festival.”

Geraghty completed a valuable double in the Grand National Trial Handicap Chase when partnering What Odds for his father, Tucker.

Carrying the same colours of 2003 Aintree Grand National winner Monty’s Pass, the 9-2 favourite made a horrendous mistake at the second last, but managed to hold the fast-finishing Tell Me See by two lengths.

There was further talk of the Cheltenham Festival earlier in the afternoon when Justified spread-eagled a competitive field in the Byrne Group Plc Novice Hurdle.

A welcome spare ride for Mick Fitzgerald, deputising for the injured Shay Barry, the rider had little to do aboard Eamonn Sheehy’s gelding the pair tracked the pacemaking mare Blazing Liss.

A well-supported 9-4 favourite, he went clear before the second last, and came home in his own time, 14 lengths clear of Blazing Liss to provide the County Kilkenny handler with a second consecutive win in the Grade Two race.

Sheehy said: “He won’t run again before Cheltenham. The Supreme Novices’ is the favoured race but it will depend on the ground.

“He stays very well if the ground is quick we might have to think again.

“We deliberately missed running at Christmas to wait for this race which we won last year with Kahuna. I’m still only learning how to train this horse.”

Fitzgerald told At The Races: “It was testing gallop today and my fellow was able to pick up and go again.

“He would definitely be a better horse on fast ground but I think he’d go on a livelier surface.”

Cashmans and Ladbrokes quickly slashed Justified’s odds to 10-1 for the Letheby & Christopher-sponsored contest, which opens the meeting at Prestbury Park, with Coral going as short as 8-1 from 25-1.

He is a general 10-1 shot for the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle.

Supreme Peace saw out the trip best to land the opening race of the afternoon, the Event Power Handicap Hurdle.

Grand National hopeful Hedgehunter had forced a fast pace with Romaha for much of the three-mile contest before the pair faded with five flights to go.

Market Mariner went for home, but Kevin Coleman and the Francis Flood-trained Supreme Peace (4-1) appeared to be travelling better, and although it took a while for the penny to drop, the gelding kept going to beat his rival by a length and a half.