Realt Dubh wins Powers Gold Cup

Realt Dubh won his third Grade One race of the season when benefiting from the fall of Noble Prince at the second-last in the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

Noel Meade’s smart performer had finished third in the Arkle having won two big prizes at Leopardstown in December and January.

Noble Prince was behind Realt Dubh in both of those yet won the Jewson at Cheltenham when stepped up to two and a half miles and was sent off the 13-8 favourite to confirm that form.

All appeared to be going to plan for Tony McCoy when he sent Noble Prince to the front and he had not asked a serious question when he got in too close to the penultimate fence.

That left Realt Dubh (9-2) clear to coast home to an 11-length win over Loosen My Load. Mikael D’Haguenet disappointed yet again.

Meade said: ``The fences are there to be jumped. We'll see how he comes out of this before deciding if we go for the two-mile novice at Punchestown.

“Paul said the ground at Cheltenham was too tacky, and he got caught in it and lost his action. The ground suited him much better today.”