Blue Lord, near side, jumps the last where the leader, Riviere D'etel, lands awkwardly© Photo Healy Racing
Blue Lord (5/2) survived a stewards' enquiry to win the Grade One Irish Arkle at Leopardstown and gave Willie Mullins a top-level treble in the process.
Paul Townend 's mount chased Riviere D'etel into the home straight in this extended two mile one test and both horses were asked for more coming to the last.
Riviere D'etel led narrowly but jumped it to her right and landed awkwardly as Blue Lord got on terms on the run-in.
Blue Lord was ridden to go on and soon edged across Riviere D'etel. He looked for all money to be home in the closing stages when he increased his lead, however, Riviere D'etel (2/1f) rallied gamely and stayed on stoutly to get to within a neck at the line.
The stewards looked into possible interference on the run-in but the placings remained unaltered.
Mullins said: “It was a good performance, he did what was required. It was a tough race, there was no hiding place there as there was plenty of pace on up front.
“He jumped well throughout, he came under a little bit of pressure turning for home but once he got running going to the last it was just a matter of jumping the last I thought.
“He jumped well today and I couldn't fault what he did, I'm happy enough he did everything right.
“Paul said when he got to the front he just did what he did in Naas, he just idled. Between the wind and the crowd here today you could see him looking around himself. I'm very happy with his performance.
“Saint Sam (in third) needs to learn a lot. He made two bad mistakes but got away with it, he's a horse that can find a fifth leg.
“We're very happy with them and happy that Haut En Couleurs got up off the ground as well.”
Mullins won the opening couple of Grade Ones on the card through Minella Cocooner and Vauban Townend doubled up as he was on Vauban in the preceding race.
Paddy Power kept Blue Lord unchanged at 11/4 favourite for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The stewards' report reads as follows:
J.W. Kennedy, rider of Riviere D'etel (FR) trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount met with interference which he felt had cost him the race.
The Stewards interviewed J.W. Kennedy, rider of Riviere D'etel (FR), concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. In his evidence, J.W. Kennedy stated that his mount had lost her momentum when receiving interference after the last fence and was closing down on the winner when his last few hits exceeded the whip guidelines. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that J.W. Kennedy was in breach of R10(3)(g) by using his whip with excessive frequency. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended J.W. Kennedy for four racedays.
The Stewards enquired into possible interference between the final fence and the winning post involving Blue Lord (FR), ridden by P. Townend, placed first, and Riviere D'etel (FR), ridden by J.W. Kennedy, placed second, where it appeared that Blue Lord (FR) had crossed Riviere D'etel (FR) who in turn checked at that time. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence, J.W. Kennedy stated that his mount had made a mistake at the final fence and was starting to pick up again when crossed by Blue Lord (FR), causing him to check and his mount to lose her momentum before rallying back to get beaten half a length. In his opinion the interference had cost his mount the winning of the race. P. Townend stated that he joined Riviere D'etel (FR) at the final fence after she had made a mistake, and his own mount on taking the lead was caught by a gust of wind for which the animal lost momentum. He added that he had reacted quickly by stopping riding before getting his mount going again. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that while Blue Lord (FR) had caused interference to Riviere D'etel, he did not improve his finishing position as a result of this interference so they made no alteration to the Judge’s placings and took no further action.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
