Backed from a top-priced 5/2 in the morning into 6/4, Lochan Lacha the ante-post favourite for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas, done his hopes for that big pot no harm at all when he prevailed by a head under Ruby Walsh in the Joe Savage Handicap Hurdle.
Lochan Lacha's cause looked a forlorn one from before the straight and even more so when Ruby dropped his whip between the last two. However leader Rebel Chief missed the last and that gave his rivals a chance. Lochan Lacha picked up best on the run-in to get on top in the last strides.
Successful trainer Tony Martin said: "That's him, he is a big old-fashioned slow horse. I don't know if I did the right thing by not putting him in the Welsh National. But we said we'd love to have him for Leopardstown at Christmas.
"I think he'll improve a bit after today. He is only a second season novice. Hopefully they'll go a gallop in the Paddy Power. They just walked there today and he just got caught a bit flat-footed. Even without a stick he stayed on really well from the last. I told him not to win too far!
"It's a pity his owner, Mick Bailey couldn't be here today. He had other commitments, he would have been here on Sunday."
