A Wave Of The Sea with Barry Geraghty and trainer Joseph O'Brien© Photo Healy Racing
A Wave Of The Sea took a dramatic renewal of the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle as hot-favourite Aspire Tower crashed out at the final flight.
Rachael Blackmore adopted usual front-running tactics on Aspire Tower but Henry de Bromhead’s exciting juvenile was strongly pressed by Cerberus approaching final flight.
The 1/3 favourite held a slight advantage when falling at the last leaving Cerberus with what appeared a certain victory.
However, Mark Walsh’s mount stopped quickly in the closing stages and stable-companion A Wave Of The Sea finished strongly to gain an unlikely victory under Barry Geraghty.
Wolf Prince actually took the runner-up spot as Cerberus dropped back to third at the line.
Successful trainer Joseph O'Brien said, “It looked like it was going to be a great tussle out to the line between Henry's horse and Cerberus. Unfortunately he fell but seems up okay.
“I'm delighted that the two horses ran with a lot of credit. Barry took his time, saved all his energy and he came and picked up all the pieces late.
“It looked like Cerberus was fighting with Aspire Tower out over the last and when he fell he just had a look up and probably saw the stands and everything and stopped in front.
“Mark said when the other horses came past him he stayed on again but it was just too late.
“I”m delighted we had A Wave Of The there to come and get him.
“They'll have entries in the Fred Winter and the Triumph and we'll go from there. We'll speak with JP and Frank and see where they'd like to go.”
Geraghty said, “It’s a bit of a surprise but a nice race to win. I thought off the turn in that I had a chance but the front two pulled away from me going to the last and I felt I was in trouble.
“Obviously Rachael went at the last and the horse in front seemed to stop in the last 100 yards and my lad kept going.
“He stays well but whether he’s good enough (to win a Triumph Hurdle) I couldn’t say.”
Aspire Tower's trainer Henry de Bromhead said, "He seems fine and just had a bit of a cut. Hopefully he'll be okay in the morning."
Bookmaker reaction for the Triumph Hurdle was to push out Aspire Tower (8/1 from 4/1 favourite with both Paddy Power and Betfair) while A Wave Of The Sea is now 16/1 (from 33/1).
(GC & AM)
