Meath trainer Tony Martin landed Ireland`s richest handicap hurdle at his first attempt when Xenophon swept to victory under Mick Fitzgerald in the 130,000 euro Pierse Hurdle.
The lightly-raced seven-year-old gelding traveled strongly to lead before the final flight, and kept on well to beat Colourful Life, who was putting in his best work at the finish, by two lengths. `The plan was to bring him to Cheltenham in November but he picked up a slight injury on his reappearance at Punchestown which ruled that out. I will see how he comes out of this race before making plans, but he will go chasing next season,` said Martin.
`He`s been called alot of names in the past but I wish I had a few more like him,` said trainer Christy Roche after Youlneverwalkalone headed top-weight Foxchapel King after the last to score by a length under Barry Geraghty in the Pierse Leopardstown Handicap Chase. `Barry was very good on him and, to be honest, I have not looked beyond today`s race,` added Roche, who is now hopeful that his stable is over the bug which caused a number of his horses to be withdrawn here at the Christmas meeting.
The start of this three miles event was delayed by 13 minutes as visibility at the second fence past the stands was impeded by smoke from a fire outside the racecourse grounds. The fence was omitted when the race eventually got underway.
Ten Poundsworth, the complete outsider of the 12 runners at 25/1 (53/1 on the Tote) in the Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Novice Chase, caused a major shock when jumping to the front at the penultimate fence for Davy Russell to beat Ground Ball by two lengths. Victory for the useful hunter chaser came as a big surprise to connections including trainer George Stewart who didn`t even bother to make the journey south from his Lisburn base. The Grand National is the long-term plan this season.
Hi Cloy booked his ticket for the Royal & SunAlliance Novice Hurdle when following up a recent maiden win here in the two anda half miles novice hurdle. Timmy Murphy sent the six-year-old past the front-running favourite Native Jack before the last to score by a length and a half, and trainer Michael Hourigan commented of the former winning pointer, `He`s a chaser in the making, and anything he does over hurdles is a bonus. He will have another run, probably over two miles to sharpen him up, before going to Cheltenham.`
Georges Girl turned the 24 runner S M Morris Handicap Hurdle into a procession, sprinting clear under Fran Flood off the home turn to beat Madonna Fan by a facile 11 lengths.
Alan Magee
