SOLNESS REPEATED HIS victory of 12 months ago in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase when seeing off a truly gallant Marine Nationale in a thrilling race at Leopardstown.
Only half a length separated them at the line in the Grade One feature, but the Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale and Sean Flanagan had worked wonders mid-race to keep their partnership intact after a dreadful blunder.
It was to their credit they arrived almost upsides Solness (8-1), with Majborough just behind, at the final fence, but it was Joseph O’Brien’s Solness, with Sam Ewing replacing the stood down J J Slevin, who prevailed for the second year in a row.
What a finish!
Solness takes the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown
“He’s very good here in Leopardstown,” said O’Brien, who went close to back-to-back King George VI Chase wins at Kempton Park yesterday with Banbridge.
“I don’t know what it is, we tend to keep him wide looking for the better ground and he likes being in lots of space and it seems to work.
“My heart goes out to J J who was stood down with concussion after the last race. He’s done all the hard work on the horse, but Sam gave him a fantastic ride.
“The horse is as tough as nails, and it was a great race. It was a great run from Marine Nationale after making that mistake early.
“He’ll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival. The track suits him as he likes to be ridden aggressively and the drier ground here.”
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Later, Skylight Hustle was a rather fortunate winner of the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown after Talk The Talk fell at the final flight.
Gordon Elliott’s Skylight Hustle had himself moved stylishly into contention, but he looked booked for second when Joseph O’Brien’s Talk The Talk quickened impressively and was half a length up jumping the last.
Just as Sam Ewing was poised to be beneficiary of two Grade Ones on the card stepping in for the concussed J J Slevin, Talk The Talk landed too steeply and was unable to keep his balance, handing the race to the 3-1 favourite by five lengths from Carrigmoornaspruce.
Skylight Hustle takes advantage of a fall for Talk The Talk to continue a great Leopardstown Christmas Festival for Gordon Elliott with a win in the the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle
“He travelled like a dream the whole way and jumped like a buck,” said Elliott.
“I thought looking at it live that we were beat, but when I looked at the re-run, I wasn’t sure (with) the way my lad galloped from the last to the line.
“Jack said when he came in ‘I can’t guarantee I would have won but I definitely wasn’t beat’. He said he really liked the way he went from the last to the line.
“It happened to us yesterday (when El Cairos fell when in front at the last) but that’s why it’s called jump racing.
“He’s a good horse and I think he’ll stay further as well.
“I’d imagine he’ll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival.”
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Solness denies Marine Nationale in Leopardstown thriller
SOLNESS REPEATED HIS victory of 12 months ago in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase when seeing off a truly gallant Marine Nationale in a thrilling race at Leopardstown.
Only half a length separated them at the line in the Grade One feature, but the Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale and Sean Flanagan had worked wonders mid-race to keep their partnership intact after a dreadful blunder.
It was to their credit they arrived almost upsides Solness (8-1), with Majborough just behind, at the final fence, but it was Joseph O’Brien’s Solness, with Sam Ewing replacing the stood down J J Slevin, who prevailed for the second year in a row.
“He’s very good here in Leopardstown,” said O’Brien, who went close to back-to-back King George VI Chase wins at Kempton Park yesterday with Banbridge.
“I don’t know what it is, we tend to keep him wide looking for the better ground and he likes being in lots of space and it seems to work.
“My heart goes out to J J who was stood down with concussion after the last race. He’s done all the hard work on the horse, but Sam gave him a fantastic ride.
“The horse is as tough as nails, and it was a great race. It was a great run from Marine Nationale after making that mistake early.
“He’ll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival. The track suits him as he likes to be ridden aggressively and the drier ground here.”
Later, Skylight Hustle was a rather fortunate winner of the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown after Talk The Talk fell at the final flight.
Gordon Elliott’s Skylight Hustle had himself moved stylishly into contention, but he looked booked for second when Joseph O’Brien’s Talk The Talk quickened impressively and was half a length up jumping the last.
Just as Sam Ewing was poised to be beneficiary of two Grade Ones on the card stepping in for the concussed J J Slevin, Talk The Talk landed too steeply and was unable to keep his balance, handing the race to the 3-1 favourite by five lengths from Carrigmoornaspruce.
“He travelled like a dream the whole way and jumped like a buck,” said Elliott.
“I thought looking at it live that we were beat, but when I looked at the re-run, I wasn’t sure (with) the way my lad galloped from the last to the line.
“Jack said when he came in ‘I can’t guarantee I would have won but I definitely wasn’t beat’. He said he really liked the way he went from the last to the line.
“It happened to us yesterday (when El Cairos fell when in front at the last) but that’s why it’s called jump racing.
“He’s a good horse and I think he’ll stay further as well.
“I’d imagine he’ll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival.”
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Joseph O'Brien Leopardstown Racing