Prince Rudi, red cap, comes through to win the feature in Ballybrit© Photo Healy Racing
The change in going to yielding to soft may have decimated the numbers lining up in the featured Grade C handicap hurdle at Galway, but that didn’t bother Prince Rudi who relished the rain-sodden turf as he powered home at 20/1.
The veteran 12-year-old raced close to the pace in third and second. However, after the last hurdle in this two mile six contest he stayed on to great effect under Ian McCarthy to collar front-running Flatfoot Boogie and hold Shanpallas The latter charged home down the outside to finish second, beaten half a length at 6/1.
Successful trainer Stephen Nolan said: “He’s a machine for his age. I had him in the Galway Blazers, but we bypassed that to come here. He’s been a model of consistency. The rain came at the right time. If there had been no rain he wouldn’t have run.
“He won the Pertemps qualifier at Leopardstown one year [in 2012] and missed going to Cheltenham by 3lbs and it was then we decided to go chasing with him.
“He’ll run in the Kerry National if he gets in and the Paddy Power at Leopardstown over Christmas. If all goes to plan he’ll have the Irish National as his long-term target.”
Of the original 19 runners, seven were taken out of this race. In addition, reserve Megan’s Vic didn’t run. Reserve Give Me A Break however, did get in and finished third under Luke Dempsey at 6/1, just ahead of Clara McCloud. Flatfoot Boogie weakened close home to be fifth.
Prince Rudi was the oldest horse in the race by three years.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
