Anibale Fly and Donagh Meyler lead Ucello Conti over the last © Photo Healy Racing
Anibale Fly showed his class when streaking clear in the closing stages to run out a convincing winner of the €200,000 Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown today.
Tony Martin's charge had competed at a high level in novice company last season, including chasing home Disko in a Grade One at Punchestown.
He had been well held in two starts over shorter trips this season but stepping back up to three miles he bounced back to his best to land the valuable prize.
Donagh Meyler was handy throughout on the 14/1 shot and he hit the front turning for home in the hotly contested event.
The French-bred pulled away from his rivals in some style on the run-in to post a seven-length success.
25/1 shot Ucello Conti chased him home, having also filled the runner-up spot in the race in 2015.
His stable-mate Squouateur who went to post the 4/1 favourite, ran on late to take the third spot.
“It couldn't have worked out better, with our own man riding him and he gave him an excellent ride. He jumped from fence to fence. I was just hoping he wouldn't get there too early and luckily enough he didn't,” said Martin.
“He wants a proper trip. He's an old fashioned staying horse and he jumped and galloped.
“This is what you get up everyday for, to have days like this. It doesn't happen too often but when it does it's great.
“Bad old mornings, horses going bad, things going bad and the job going bad. When you get a boost it rejuvenates the whole lot.
“He's always been a very good horse but just luck didn't go his way. He was favourite for the Feltham last year, the race Might Bite ran in. I don't know what happened then whether it was ground or trip or whatever.
“In the race today he jumped out and travelled and was always in there with a good squeak. I was always happy watching it.
“There was no stage where I was saying 'we're in trouble', fortunately enough, and it all went right.
“He got there in plenty of time and the further he was going the better, you couldn't be happier with him.
“He won well for a competitive handicap. He's after going through (the handicap) roof there now and could be anything.
“It's days like today that you want. That helps you get to the point-to-point and Clonmels of this world. It's day like today that make it all worthwhile.”
Meyler added:- "His form last year behind Disko and the likes was very good. He had to carry a lot of weight but class gets you through that and he showed his class today.
"They told me to jump off good and handy and he was always travelling and winged fences so it makes my job a lot easier. One thing that he does do is stay so I was fairly confident that he would get up the hill. He seemed to relish it.
"It's hard to get a ride in all the Grade One's so a big win like this is very important. Tony has been very good to me and very loyal so I'd like to thank him.
"Hopefully he'll improve again off that and the sky is the limit."
