Alisier D'Irlande and David Mullins© Photo Healy Racing
The Grade 3 We Show All Live Racing Chase at Naas went to Alisier D'Irlande to complete a double for Henry de Bromhead and David Mullins.
Whilst he mightn't be every punters favourite horse having failed to deliver at odds of 7/4, 13/8 and 15/8 in the past, the neutrals definitely would have been rooting for Alisier D'Irlande in the latter stages here.
He'd given it his all from the front and so it would have been tough on the tear-away if he'd been reeled in on the testing terrain.
That looked a possibility when Pairofbrowneyes cut into his advantage from before the last, but Alisier D'Irlande gamely found more on the run-in to ward off the danger by ten lengths.
After the win for his stable companion Adreamstillalive earlier, this success certainly wasn't unexpected for the de Bromhead runner (landed this event 3 times, including last year, with Days Hotel at Grade 2 status) as he was backed into 5/2 joint favouritism (from 100/30).
The other market-leader, British raider Just Cameron could manage only fourth of the six.
"He was beaten at the start of the year here on good ground but he loves that heavy ground and gallops relentlessly. He was feeling the pinch after the last but it was tough," said de Bromhead.
"We went to Leopardstown at Christmas and took our chance but the ground was pretty good there. He still led them to about the second last.
"I've had this race in mind for a while and that race (over hurdles) in Navan might have helped him fitness wise for today.
"My wife Heather suggested that we might take him to France. He loves that ground and he jumps so well and left-handed would suit him. We might look at that option. I've never had a runner in France before."
(AM & EM)
