RACING POST ARKLE

CHALLENGE TROPHY

NOVICES’ CHASE

(GRADE 1)

A SHUDDERING mid-race mistake wasn’t in the script but everything else went to plan as Footpad produced a display in keeping with his position as the 5/6 favourite for the two-mile novice championship.

A series of dazzling displays on his first three runs over fences saw Footpad go off an overwhelming market leader for the smallest field in Arkle history. However, there was genuine cause for alarm as the six-year-old clouted the sixth fence and found himself lying some way off the duelling pace-setters Saint Calvados and Petit Mouchoir.

WORRIES

For a period one wondered if Footpad might meet the same fate as Sybillin who was beaten in this race in 1993 when going off at odds-on. Such worries were firmly allayed from the third last though as Footpad turned on the style to leave Willie Mullins contemplating if his charge might challenge for the Gold Cup in the years to come.

The small field did nothing to detract from an enthralling spectacle as Petit Mouchoir and Saint Calvados set off at an electric pace. The former burned off his aforementioned opponent by the time he reached the fourth last and some exuberant jumping saw him holding a commanding lead.

Ruby Walsh and Footpad soon began to creep notably closer and at the third last there was real menace to the favourite’s forward charge. Off the last bend, Footpad struck for home and then he was utterly relentless in the straight. He went further and further clear to come home 14 lengths clear of Brain Power, who found a way past a weary Petit Mouchoir late on.

“I was worried after he made that mistake but they went a huge pace up front and Ruby was happy to let them at it. He sat and suffered and that was the right thing to do,” reflected a delighted Mullins. “I doubt we’ve had many horses improve as much from hurdles to fences as he has. At the start of the season I had him marked out as a JLT or even an RSA horse but his jumping has just brought him up to another level.

GOLD CUP

“Possibly he might be a Gold Cup horse for the future but we’ll see. We’ll look at the other upcoming festivals for him.

“Traditionally we head to Punchestown but we’ll just have to see where he goes.

“That wasn’t good for the heart, I’ve never been as nervous watching a race. He was our best of the week.”

Walsh, less than a week after returning to race riding following the broken leg he sustained in November, stated: “He was just very long at the first one down the back but he was very good thereafter and, to be honest, he’s produced a performance that was reflective of his work at home.”