The Gradual Slope a maiden no more after marathon success

Coming into the race a maiden over fences, The Gradual Slope upset some more experienced and better fancied opponents when getting up close home to win the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase on the final day of the Punchestown festival.

Twice successful over hurdles earlier in his career, the seven-year-old grey had previously failed to get his head in front on six previous outings over fences.

Stepping up to this marathon 3m7f trip for the first time, the Sean O'Brien trained gelding needed almost every yard of that distance, only getting up close home to defeat gallant British raider Your Own Story

Jockey Mark McDonagh rode a patient waiting race on the eventual winner, tracking the leaders in the first half dozen, before moving fourth approaching two out. Coming away from that fence in third, he went in chase of the leader on the run to the final obstacle but had to really knuckle down and grind it out before leading at the death to win by a neck.

Mark McDonagh said: "It was brilliant. Look, he is not the easiest. Sean O'Brien does a terrific job with him. So does the man leading him up here. He travelled, jumped well and to be fair, he always had a bit left.

"I was quite happy throughout. I thought rolling down the hill the second time, when the speed came in, that there was still a long way to go.

"When I rode him over various trips all season, I could never saw that I got to the end of him. So when the 3m7f race here came up, we said we'd roll the dice today."

Sean O’Brien added: “Mark gave him a cool ride all the way around, got him to switch off and never missed a beat on him. It’s a great way to lose his claim and fantastic for his father as well.

“He’s been running well in beginners but the problem is you’re meeting all the top horses and running off level weights.

“He’s only a small horse and he had a light weight. We just felt stepping him up in trip and putting him to sleep that he would have a chance.

“We’re a real family operation and it’s great to win a big race like this. Also a big thanks to Dave Barry who let me use his gallop because mine got damaged with the flood. His brother has a swimming pool and I’ve been using that a lot as well.

“What kept us out of Ayr was that we were running out of the handicap. We didn’t get in at Downpatrick and it was a matter of hoping that we would get in here.

“He might go to Ballinrobe for the Mayo National. I’ll have a word with Mark and see what he wants to do.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.