Unaccompanied (100/30) showed her devastating turn of foot to turn over even money favourite Thousand Stars in the feature race at Leopardstown – the Grade 1 Istabraq Festival Hurdle over two miles.
The going was changed from good to yielding (yielding in places) to soft before this race due to heavy rain but it didn’t affect Paul Townend and Unaccompanied who were always travelling well.
They picked up the lead at the last from Oscars Well and Robbie Power and had too much toe for the staying on Thousand Stars and Ruby Walsh.
The winning distance was a-length-and-a-half and this victory has opened up an avenue of top-class races for the Dermot Weld-trained mare.
“She’s a very good mare and is only a four-year-old. She beat St Nicholas Abbey in the Alleged Stakes on the flat. It was a lovely performance and lovely ride by Paul,” a delighted Dermot Weld said.
“I was concerned I was throwing her in the deep end against proven horses. The second is a very solid high-class horse. She answered the call. I’ll talk to Eva Marie Haefner [from the owners] but the Irish Champion Hurdle in a month’s time is the logical step. If everything went well we’ll look at the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
“Today was important to see what way we went with her. I still think she will make a very high-class stakes mare on the flat but after today we would have to continue jumping.
“I’m delighted for Paul Townend and everything worked out well. She jumps super and that’s a huge help. She has the will to win and I was always quietly confident she would run a very good race. My only concern was inexperience.
“I was a little concerned about the showers as she has loads of pace and maybe her stamina may have been found out but she stayed well.”
Stan Cosgrove from the owners, the Moyglare Stud, said: “She’s in great form. I thought she had a great chance and she jumps like a stag. Someone got 4/1 on her!”
Jockey Paul Townend was quick to add to the praise handed out to the mare. He added: “She’s very good. Mr Weld had her right for today. We had gone a nice gallop. She leapt the last and did it nicely. “
Jessca Harrington said of Oscars Well: "I was thrilled with Oscars. He ran to the line. He probably won't win a champion hurdle but he could be placed in one. He'll go chasing next season."
Unaccompaned gets a quote from Sean Graham and Ladbrokes of 10/1 for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Michael Graham
