Has National Hunt racing gone soft on Ted and Ruby Walsh? With an Aintree Grand National victory and the Irish equivalent secured in the last three weeks, not even Nostradamus himself could have plotted Commanche Court's remarkable but totally bizarre route to victory in the #120,000 Grade 1 Heineken Gold Cup.
Ted Walsh admitted afterwards that his horse 'had not travelled too well during the race' but the recent Irish National winner was sufficiently off the pace to survive the chaos at the third last.
Micko's Dream, who set a blistering pace from the off, looked to be travelling best of all before crashing through the third last, bringing down Dorans Pride, who had discovered extra gears in the back straight to race back into contention.
Stormyfairweather, who had weakened into fourth before the third last, was gifted the opportunity to take up the running and, joined by Macgeorge, raced into a two length lead turning for home.
Addington Boy eventually finished second but not after being brought to a literal stand still after the mayhem at the third last. Fifth in the Aintree National, Adrian Maguire's mount needed to be corrected after almost running inside one of the doll markers.
Clearly hampered by the fall of the leaders, Ruby Walsh needed to work some magic in attempting to keep Commanche Court (100/30 from 4/1) from falling over the luckless Micko's Dream. The later was a first fence casualty in the Martell Aintree Grand National.
Stormyfairweather appeared empty approaching the last and quickly relinquished his lead to the improving Commanche Court. Jumping the last, the 1997 Triumph Hurdle winner enjoyed a slight lead on a weakening Mulligan and Addington Boy who was getting his second wind on the far rail.
On the run in, Ruby Walsh kicked clear and passed the line with four and a half lengths in hand over Addington Boy.
'It was a funny race', said Ted Walsh.
'Dorans Pride looked to be travelling real well before being brought down and I think he has to be the unlucky horse in the race', continued Walsh.
He added: 'It was a farce of a race, he did not appear to travel as well as he did in the National but he is as tough as nails and is a real scrapper.'
Michael Hourigan said of Dorans Pride: 'He will be back in the Autumn and maybe he has another flat race in him.'
Hourigan continued: 'I would have been delighted if we had won but I would have been happier for the horse.'
Mick Fitzgerald picked up a two day ban from the Punchestown stewards for careless riding aboard the heavily backed 6/4 favourite Stormyfairweather.
