The Gods are smiling on the Walsh family. Only sixteen days after Papillon triumphed in the Aintree Grand National, jockey Ruby and trainer Ted combined once again to land the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National in fine style with Commanche Court.
Commanche Court sprinted away from Foxchapel King after jumping the second last to record a ten-length victory. The win was described as 'historic' by winning owner Dermot Desmond.
An eerie, goulish darkness had blanketed the skies above Fairyhouse prior to the 3.50 pm start but as Commanche Court made his move five fences from home the sun reemerged, fittingly highlighting another remarkable race victory for the father-son combination.
Commanche Court (14/1) had never won over fences prior to this race but was a noted and respected hurdler, winning the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival three years ago.
It has been a 'remarkable three weeks' for the Walsh family and today's victory was the 'icing on the cake' for triumphant jockey Rugby Walsh.
Walsh, out injured for a major part of the season after breaking a leg, had Commanche Court positioned handily throughout and declared his mount 'jumped superbly' with the only worry 'a slight blunder at the first'.
'I worked him out at the Curragh last Tuesday and was very pleased with him. I told Dad that this was the best he felt since the win in the Triumph Hurdle', explained the winning jockey.
Walsh jnr continued: 'This is truly unbelievable. I knew he was a winner from a long way out. I had him in a handy position turning for home and he stretched clear to ping the last. I'm thrilled.'
Winning trainer Ted Walsh had always viewed the Irish National as 'an unlucky race both as a trainer and as a jockey'. His Aintree hero Papillon finished second to Bobbyjo in this race two years ago.
Walsh quipped: 'Often the Triumph Hurdle can be the death of a horse but this fellow has jumped right back. He has won in a canter. He is only half the size of Papillon but this lad is the real article.'
Foxchapel King attracted strong support in the run up to race and was returned 8/1 joint favorite. The Mouse Morris-trained gelding traveled 'superbly' throughout before weakening at the second last and finishing one paced.
Irish Light, 8lbs out of the handicap, ran a gallant race in the hands of Kieran Gaule to finish 17l third behind the winner and 7l off Foxchapel King in second.
Bobbyjo, the 1999 Aintree National hero, was disappointingly tailed off passing the stands on the first circuit and was eventually pulled up by jockey Paul Carberry. The eight strong English raiders never featured at the finish. Coral Welsh National winner Edmond, had raced up with the pace until fading quickly five fences from home. Ackzo, the 8/1 joint favorite, was one of the first horses beaten with jockey Adrian Maguire declaring his mount 'never not going and I pulled him up three from home'.
Ross Moff has endured a tough campaign of late, winning at the recent Aintree festival and finishing a creditable third in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. Trainer Tony Martin admitted it had been a 'hectic few weeks' but the seven-year-old omitted no signs of fatigue when making all to land the Grade 2 Powers Gold Label Novice Hurdle.
Paul Carberry's mount never looked troubled throughout the two-mile event and was eased down at the finish to beat Minella Hotel by two and a-half-lengths.
'We will more than likely go for the Punchestown festival next week', declared winning trainer Tony Martin.
'He had two hard races in England but it didn't seem to bother him today. We just left it up to Paul (Carberry) and they won well'
Martin added, 'We will definitely go chasing with him next year'.
Caledonian Bridge was the impressive winner of the Ratoath Pharmacy Beginners Chase, landing a gamble (3/1 - 9/4) in the process.
Tommy Treacy pushed his mount to the front at the second last and maintained this lead approaching the final fence. The gelding jumped big and quickened away on the flat top record a four and-a-half length victory over Royal Marine.
Wild Arms represented good each-way value in the opening Blanchardstown Renault Hurdle, when piping the fancied Young American by the shortest of distances.
The 8/1 chance, who finished well down the field in the Triumph Hurdle, reverted back to hurdles today having run on the flat at Listowel last time out. Norman Williamson, second in the Martell Grand National aboard Mely Moss, switched his mount from the inside rail to challenge two from home. Cruising past the game Gabby Hayes, the leaders were forced to omit the final flight but on the run in the strongly fancied Young American could find no more.
Eternal Night produced a bold, fast finishing flourish on the inside but Wild Arms had done enough to hold off both challengers.
Newton Heath capitalized on a blunder by Wilton Bridge at the second last to land the Nuzum Handicap Chase. The latter had been travelling the better of the two but the blunder at the penultimate fence gifted the prize to the winner.
David Casey, now based in England, asked the winner for a big effort at the last and the combination eased away for a length and a half victory.
Bottom weight Supreme Quest produced the finish of the day to deny, the aptly named, Winning Dream victory in the Powers Gold label Point to Point Championship final.
Jockey Pat Verling composed Mohera King after a blunder at the last flight to land the Leinster Petroleum Handicap Hurdle from favorite River Clodagh.
