Dunvegan (left) is more fluent over the last than Blackbow © Photo Healy Racing
The featured Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A) saw the 7/2 joint favourites Dunvegan and Blackbow to the fore throughout with the former coming out on top in the end.
Blackbow jumped well out in front, with Dunvegan a close pursuer, and the latter moved up to dispute the lead two out. Therer was little to choose between the pair racing to the final fence, with nothing from behind able to make any impression, but a more fluent leap from Dunvegan carried the grey to a three and a quarter length victory with his stablemate Castlegrace Paddy a further dozen lengths away in third.
Winning trainer Pat Fahy said: “When I saw him jumping the second last I started to enjoy it.
“It was straightforward, before Christmas he was bouncing but then he just went a little bit short. We worked on him and he showed today that he wasn't feeling anything.
“It's unbelievable now but you'd be nervous going into these races.
“Bryan said to himself that he'd just back off enough but keep the pressure on and he gave him a brilliant ride.
“We always thought a lot of him. He won two bumpers and beat a lot of winners in Punchestown, then he was so impressive when he won his maiden hurdle here.
“He kind of went backwards on us and he always looked like a three-mile chaser but this seems to be his trip.
“He ran in the Thyestes last year and didn't get the trip on the heavy ground. He went plenty far in it, enjoyed it and jumped out of it but just couldn't stay going.
“Thankfully we pulled him back in trip and let him rock.
“That's a prestigious race, I'd always been looking at these races at one time and you wouldn't think you'd ever win them.
“I was absolutely thrilled with Castlegrace Paddy. Davy (Russell) was delighted with him, he ran some race because that would be his first proper gallop. It was a beautiful run and I couldn't be happier.
“We have Dunvegan in the Queen Mother, I know you are really jumping up in class but he's done us no harm so we'll see.
“There is also the Dublin Racing festival, we'll move on with him now and give him the chance to compete against the big ones over the shorter trips.
“He hasn't been beaten here, as he won his bumper, hurdles and now two chases. He obviously loves it and it's a pity we can't win the National with him now!”
The winner was introduced at 16/1 for the Grand Annual Chase by Paddy Power who make Blackbow a 20/1 chance (first show) for the same race.
Quotes from Gary Carson
