Neville Hotels Novice Chase |
|
| Grade 1, Leopardstown 13:55 €85,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1  |
|
| Friday 29th December 2017 | |
1 Shattered Love 10/1
2 Jury Duty 6/1
3 Bon Papa 12/1
8 ran NR: Mossback Distances: 1¾l, 16l, 19l
Time: 6m 20.30s (slow by 38.30s)
Shattered Love jumps superbly to win an eventful Grade 1
 |
A field of eight runners went to post for the three-mile Grade One contest, with the Henry de Bromhead-trained Monalee the even-money favourite to keep his unbeaten record over fences intact.
Shattered Love, a 10-1 shot in the hands of Mark Walsh, was always well to the fore and had just taken over the lead when Monalee suffered a crashing fall in the back straight, bringing down Rathvinden and also badly hampering Dinaria Des Obeaux.
That dramatic incident left Shattered Love clear of Thebarrowman, Jury Duty and Bon Papa and in the end it was the stablemates who fought out the finish.
Jury Duty did his best to bridge the gap in the straight, but in receipt of 7lb, Shattered Love did not yield and kept up the gallop to claim top honours.
Walsh, riding a rare winner in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud, said: "Shattered Love was brilliant. As you can see from the size of her, chasing was always going to be her game.
"She was winging fences down the back, I was in front six out and I just left her there and she was happy out in front. I was in front of all the trouble and that's the best place to be."
Elliott said: "She's a big, honest mare. She handled that better ground way better than I thought she would. Mark said she loved it and jumped from fence to fence.
"She was a little bit fortunate as there were a few fallers, but that's just the game. She galloped the whole way to the line.
"We're lucky we've got a few nice horses at the minute, so we're delighted. Jury Duty ran well in second as well.
"We'll have to have a think about it and see where she goes now. She's got plenty of different options."
De Bromhead reported Monalee to be "sore" following his fall.
He said: "He made one mistake across the top as well. His jumping is normally his plus, but he's a novice and unfortunately that can happen.
"He took a horrific fall. He is sore down in the yard. We'll get him home and check him over fully and see from there. We won't rush into anything.
"His jumping was incredible early and he was nearly thinking this is just easy peasy. He got some fall. I had a look at it a few times and it wasn't only the fall, he landed on his head over on his neck and then two horses came along and kicked him after.
"He's in the wars down there. We just need to make sure he's OK and then we'll see from there."
Neville Hotels Novice Steeplechase
3m, Race Value: €85,000
8 ran
Going: Yielding to Soft
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Shattered Love (IRE) 10/1 | M P Walsh 11-3 |
G Elliott | 6 | |
| 2nd | 1¾ | Jury Duty (IRE) 6/1 | R M Power 11-10 |
G Elliott | 6 |
| 3rd | 16 | Bon Papa (FR) 12/1 | B J Geraghty 11-10 |
W P Mullins | 6 |
| 4th | 19 | Thebarrowman (IRE) 66/1 | R Loughran 11-10 |
A Keatley | 7 |
| 5th | 2½ | Moulin A Vent 8/1 | S W Flanagan 11-10 |
N Meade | 5 |
| 6th | 23 | Dinaria Des Obeaux (FR) 9/1 | D F O'Regan 10-8 |
G Elliott | 4 |
| F | Monalee (IRE) Evsf | D N Russell 11-10 |
H de Bromhead | 6 | |
| BD | Rathvinden (IRE) 6/1 | P Townend 11-10 |
W P Mullins | 9 | |
| NR | Mossback (IRE) | D Meyler 11-10 |
G Elliott | 5 |
