Andrew Lynch made the most of a spare ride on Edward O’Grady’s Cash And Go to take the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Paul Townend was feeling the effects of a sore collarbone after his fall from the ill-fated Golden Silver in the previous race. He was stood down for the day and Dr Adrian McGoldrick advised that he would be going to the Vista Clinic after racing for X-rays on his left collarbone.
Cash And Go was sent off at 11/2 in a five-runner affair that centred on Willie Mullins’s French recruit Sous Les Cieux who had previously captured the Grade 1 Royal Bond and who was the warm 4/9 favourite.
Sous Les Cieux cut out the pace but coming the last he was taken on by Cash And Go and Dylan Ross (8/1). That pair then fought out a battle from there. It looked like Paul Carberry on board Noel Meade’s charge would prevail but Cash And Go refused to be beaten and won by half-a-length.
The favourite couldn’t land a blow at the business end and was a third beaten favourite on the card for champion trainer Willie Mullins. He finished third four-and-a-quarter-lengths behind Dylan Ross.
Celebrating a double at Leopardstown, trainer Edward O’Grady said: “It’s not a big surprise as we were very hopeful beforehand. It’s funny the way things work out. Andrew was on standby as third choice after Barry [Geraghty] had to ride in England and if Paul [Townend] was required by Willie [Mullins].
“He gave him a lovely ride. The Supreme Novices Hurdle looks like his race at Cheltenham. They generally get the easier ground on the first day of the Festival and that should be OK. He’s only a four-year-old so he needs to be looked after a bit.”
Ladbrokes have Cash And Go at 14/1 for the Supreme Novices Hurdle while Stan James cut him from 20/1 to 16/1 and Boylesports slashed him from 25/1 to 16/1.
Stan James have also pushed out Sous Les Cieux for the same race from 8/1 to 16/1.
Willie Mullins gave some insight into Sous Les Cieux's disappointing run. He said: "He just ran too free. There was nothing to make the pace so we had to. He'll stick to two miles and a better run race will suit him."
Michael Graham
