Ten times English Champion Jockey Tony McCoy was at his awesome best at Fairyhouse today, managing to steer Justified to a hard fought win in the featured Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup.
In a cracking renewal of the race, Wild Passion and Missed That were early fallers but Justified, arguably the most talked about novice in years, made all for what had looked an unlikely win.
The Dusty Sheehy trained gelding jumped almost violently left throughout the 2m4f trip but McCoy wasn't taking no for an answer, eventually forcing Justified to crack In Compliance in the straight, for a three length win.
Sheehy later reported 'my yard has been going through a lean spell and one thing and another has gone wrong, and that's my first winner since he Justified won at Newbury on January 11.'
He added 'it's his first time over the trip but I never felt it would be a problem. We don't have an explanation as to why he jumped left though.'
'He's in the Kerrygold Champion Chase and the Swordlestown Cup Novice at Punchestown and I suppose he'll go for the novice race but I wouldn't rule out the Kerrygold either, he likes the track.'
McCoy had earlier partnered Vic Venturi to win the Grade 2 Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Festival Novice Hurdle.
In another race full of future stars, Vic Venturi eventually got the better of Mounthenry with serious chasing type Thyne Again in third.
Ridden by Tony McCoy, Vic Venturi was held up before making steady progress to lead after the second last, eventually responding to McCoy to see off the challenge of Mounthenry by half a length.
Vic Venturi's trainer Philip Fenton later reported 'that's Tony's first ride for me and I was delighted to have him on board.'
He added 'Vic Venturi battled well and will make a fine chaser next season; he's already schooled well over racecourse fences.'
Charles Byrnes' horses have been in cracking form all season and his Cailin Alainn ran out the game winner of the Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final.
Ridden by Barry Cash, the recent Tramore maiden hurdle winner was held up early on, before making progress to eventually lead after the second last, staying on for two length win over well backed 7/4 favourite Celestial Wave.
Tony Martin's Royal County Star was all the rage in the tote.ie Novice Handicap Hurdle, following his easy win at Limerick recently, but found Laureldean too strong from the final flight.
Martin did later gain compensation when his Wine Fountain won the Navan Shopping Centre Maiden Hurdle while Handsuposcar, under Andrew McNamara, landed the opening beginners' chase.
At Cork, the opening Coolmore Spartacus Maiden went to Dermot Weld's Nightime, under Pat Smullen.
Afterwards Weld reported 'Nightime's mother Caumshinaun won the Platinum Stakes here a few years ago and Nightime became a very nice filly herself once she got the hang of things.'
He added 'she'll go for the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown in May before then possibly going for the Irish Guineas itself.'
The feature race, the Murphys Listed Handicap Hurdle, went to Michael Hourigan's Kilbeggan Lad, patiently ridden by Timmy Murphy.
