Murphy plunders major prize
British runners gave the Irish a taste of their own medicine at Punchestown today as Ferdy Murphy's Carlys Quest sprung a 25-1 shock in the Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle.
During a winter that has seen many a top jumps prize in England carried back to the Emerald Isle, two of the top races on day three of the Festival went to British raiders.
Just over an hour on from United's win for Lucy Wadham, Carlys Quest made smooth headway through the pack before bolting clear down the home straight to take the Grade One prize by an eased-down nine lengths.
Solerina made her usual gallant effort from the front but after setting a fast pace faded when the taps were turned on, leaving Rosaker to take second with Murphy's other runner, Basilea Star, two lengths further back in third.
Murphy, who landed the race in 1997 with the Norman Williamson-ridden Paddy's Return, was surprised by the result, with his 11-year-old not having won out of handicap company before.
"We just came here expecting to be fourth or fifth and pick up a few euros and have some fun with the owners, but this was totally unexpected," he said.
"He really needs a strong gallop. For two miles he goes nowhere but picks up towards the finish and does his best work in the last mile.
"He's a sweet horse, very tiny, but he had a good lad (Keith Mercer) on top.
"He will be out to grass now and next season handicaps will be out of the question. We will have to look at races like the Long Walk Hurdle and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.
"Hopefully Solerina will come to those races and go like a bullet, as that would suit us."
Tom Taaffe's Emotional Moment was sent off the 9-4 favourite but came under pressure early on in the three-mile test and soon dropped out, while a gamble on Willie Mullins' Our Ben was put to bed when Ruby Walsh's mount crashed out on the first circuit.
Mouse Morris's high opinion of War Of Attrition was justified once and for all as his stable star dug deep for a one-length defeat of Watson Lake in the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase.
The six-year-old disappointed when sent off favourite for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, finishing seventh, but looked to be back to his best when chasing home Ashley Brook at Aintree earlier this month.
Before the Grade One race it was Watson Lake who caught the imagination of punters with Noel Meade's charge being backed down from an early-morning price of 11-4 to be returned on course at 7-4.
And Paul Carberry looked to have the race at his mercy as the favourite put in spectacular jumps over the fourth and third-last fences, which saw him draw several lengths clear.
A mistake at the second-last took the stuffing out of him, though, and after leaving a hole in the fence, he wandered around in front before being collared by Conor O'Dwyer aboard the 3-1 winner on the run to the line.
"I'd have settled for second place throughout the race as he wasn't looking happy on the ground and was climbing over his fences," said Morris.
"He's a nice horse to be dreaming about over the summer and it was nice to go out on a high after the troubles he's had this season.
"He'll step up to three miles next term."
However, Morris was keeping exact plans close to his chest and when asked about a tilt at the Gold Cup, chuckled: "I'm not saying that."
O'Dwyer added: "I wasn't confident, but I was happy enough that I would get to him. The other horse missed the last and then we were away."
Enda Bolger's domination of the Blue Square Chase for the La Touche Cup continued in tremendous style as his Good Step and Shady Lad fought out a nail-biting finishing to give Bolger his eighth consecutive win in the famous banks race.
The County Kilkenny trainer's pair were clear leaving the unique course behind them and heading on to the racecourse proper, with Nina Carberry aboard Shady Lad looking to be sailing to victory.
However, JT McNamara and Good Step were giving their all in second and after joining his stablemate at the last, the 11-2 shot kept on well for a half-length win.
"He's a tough horse to run like that off 12st 3lb in soft ground," said Bolger. "He likes the soft ground and the further he goes, the better he goes, and it was a great ride from John.
"I feel sorry for Nina - she was not beaten far. I also feel sorry for the horse that came second, as he was second last year.
"Nina gave him a copybook ride and she will be something else.
"The winner is only a young horse and he's a very well-bred horse from a family that improves as they get older.
"He could be our Sporting Index horse for next season, while the owner of the second is an adventurous man and wants to go to Prague for the Pardubicka."
Bolger's one-two is even more amazing considering both horses were substitutes for his main man over the banks course, Spot Thedifference, who is sidelined with sore muscles following the Grand National.
"He is at home and will have to stand in the stables for a couple of weeks. He is an old character though and will hopefully be around for another couple of seasons," added Bolger.
