Haut En Couleurs, centre, falls at the last leaving Fakir D'oudairies, right, to forge home on the run-in© Photo Healy Racing
Fakir D'oudairies went one better than last year in the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles, but that only tells half the story.
The 7/4 favourite got slightly outpaced before staying on coming to the last behind Haut En Couleurs The latter was given a patient ride by Bryan Cooper but arrived on the scene in the straight absolutely tanking. He came through to lead before the final fence and Cooper asked him to go and win his race.
The well supported 13/2 chance jumped it well but toppled over and crumpled upon landing to leave Fakir D'oudairies with the race at his mercy. He was driven clear on the run-in by JJ Slevin and passed the post six lengths clear of French Dynamite (11/2). Chacun Pour Soi tried two and a half miles for the first time and held every chance swinging for home before weakening quickly approaching the last. He finished third, beaten 18 lengths by the winner.
Trainer Joseph O'Brien said: "He got a little lost around the turn and was galloping down the straight, but obviously the horse in front fell, although we were coming for a challenge anyway.
"I was very pleased with the performance and pleased with how he jumped and it sets him up nicely for the spring. He was giving away weight and I feel as he is getting older, it is taking a bit more work to get him there.
"He is a young horse, and over his career, has been fantastic and always runs his race. He tries and is a great horse to have in the yard. Today's race was a good one, they went a good gallop and it was a deep field so I'm very pleased.
"He will potentially go back to Ascot for the Grade 1 he won last year and then we'll look at the Ryanair Chase and Aintree. I suppose all those options will be left open."
Paddy Power kept Fakir D'oudairies unchanged at 7/1 for the Ryanair Chase.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
