Aloneamongmillions and Derek O'Connor lead over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Aloneamongmillions confirmed the good impression he’s made between the flags over the past 12 months when taking the BoyleSports Tetratema Cup Hunters Chase at Gowran Park.
The Sam Curling-trained gelding has won all four point-to-point starts and was sent off the 100/30 joint favourite here on his first start under rules.
Derek O’Connor gave the Mahler seven-year-old a patient ride and switched right to challenge on the far side early in the straight.
He headed Some Man at the final fence, and kept on well to beat that rival by four and a half lengths with Macs Legend another 16 lengths away in third.
Fenno’s Storm was bidding to land this historic hunter chase for a third successive year but the 100/30 joint favourite dropped out tamely approaching the straight to finish a well-beaten sixth.
Curling said, “It was a lovely performance and he's a very nice horse. He got hurt as a four-year-old and we gave him plenty of time.
“I'd say that could nearly be it for the year or he might go to Punchestown. We'll aim him for Cheltenham next year so we might avoid that as he doesn't take much racing.
“It's great for the owners who have been with me a long time.
“The first two are two good horses, young horses. They brought the form to the table.”
(GC & AM)
