BOYLESPORTS

CHAMPION CHASE

(GRADE 1)

ON a day that wasn’t short on surprises the unheralded but undeniably top class English raider God’s Own upstaged Vautour in the BoyleSports Champion Chase.

Earlier in the month at Liverpool, God’s Own came through to claim the Melling Chase where the main talking point was Vautour’s departure. On this occasion Vautour completed but hard as he tried the Ryanair Chase winner just couldn’t match the Tom George-trained winner who once again showed his affinity for going right-handed.

A season that featured an agonising last gasp defeat in the King George before that brilliant effort at Cheltenham was expected to end on a high for Vautour as he tackled two miles for the first time since a surprise defeat in December 2014. Unquestionably Willie Mullins’ charge boasted the strongest form in the line-up to go with a rating of 176 and all this made him a worthy 4/9 favourite.

For his part God’s Own, a winner of the Ryanair Novice Chase at this meeting in 2014, was returned at 9/1 under Paddy Brennan whose mount set off in third as Special Tiara cut out a strong pace from Vautour. The complexion of the race remained largely unchanged for much of the two miles but the battle was well and truly joined on the run to the second last fence.

At this stage Special Tiara was clinging on grimly to a slender lead but he was being pressed on all sides. An under pressure Vautour, whose effort just seemed to lack the brilliance that has characterised many of his best efforts, held every chance as did Simonsig who was running over fences for the first time since March 2013. However, none could match God’s Own who touched down in front coming away from two out. The English raider first dealt with the valiant effort of Simonsig and, having produced another fine jump at the last, he stuck to his task to hold a rallying Vautour by two lengths.

DIFFICULT

“I must say a big thank you to all the team at home as this horse isn’t the easiest to train and a lot of work goes on with him behind the scenes,” commented George who trains the eight-year-old for the Crossed Fingers Partnership. “We’ve actually had to work him quite hard since Aintree as he put on weight after winning there which is quite unusual. We knew the track here would suit as he’s won here before and he is a better horse going right-handed.”

Meanwhile this was a first Punchestown Festival triumph for Paddy Brennan who has ridden just a handful of winners over jumps in his homeland.

“I thought that he’d run well but some of the opposition that we were taking on was very hot. This is home and it’s very special to ride a winner and I must say the ground out there is the most beautiful you could ever hope to ride on. It’s a credit to everyone here,” reflected Brennan.

“In fairness the horse produced some performance. We went a good gallop and I was able to get a little bit a breather into him and fill him after the fourth last and after that he just galloped all the way to the line. You’d have to say now that he’s a better horse going right handed and full credit to Tom George as well. He’s done a fantastic job to have the horse here in this sort of form and he resisted the temptation to run him on bad ground throughout the winter,” added Brennan.

Of Vautour Willie Mullins remarked: “It looked to me as if the trip was too short. I didn’t think it would be but he appeared to get caught for toe by the winner between the last two fences before staying on well towards the finish. It was either that or an end of season thing.”