Paddy Power Chase |
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| (Extended Handicap Chase) Leopardstown 15:00 Grade B, €200,000 3m 100y, 5yo+  |
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| Thursday 27th December 2018 | |
1 Auvergnat 28/1
2 Vieux Morvan 33/1
3 Fitzhenry 25/1
4 Solomn Grundy 6/1
27 ran NR: Killer Miller, Slowmotion Distances: 6½l, 2½l, ½l
Time: 6m 7.90s (slow by 19.90s)
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Auvergnat gave owner JP McManus another Paddy Power Chase victory when comfortably taking the €200,000 contest for Donie McInerney and Enda Bolger, ahead of Joseph O’Brien’s Vieux Movan who led throughout most of the race. Another McManus runner Fitzhenry was third, ahead of Solomn Grundy.
It was JP McManus' third Paddy Power Chase in four years - and a seventh in all - although the winner Auvergnat was the ‘wrong one’ for many punters.
The legendary owner’s colours were carried by eight runners in the most valuable race of the Christmas period and one of them, Any Second Now, was a major gamble to 5-1 favourite.
Some of that support at least could have been due to Mark Walsh’s presence on Any Second Now’s back.
The rider had enjoyed three winners earlier on the card including a surprise Grade One victory for the English trained stalwart Simply Ned. It brought his winner total for the week so far to five.
However Walsh’s hot-streak ground to a halt on Any Second Now who stayed on to be fifth but like everything else had no answer to the 28-1 outsider Auvergnat.
Instead it was Donie McInerney who did the steering on the biggest winner of his career less than two years after he rode his first ever winner on the same horse in a Cross-Country race at Punchestown.
In the interim the young Co. Limerick jockey was crowned champion conditional jockey last season and landing the coveted €200,000 handicap prize represents another step in his career.
“Things get tighter when you get down to 3lbs (claiming) but this will keep it going for another while and it’s great to get it,” McInerney said who dropped his whip on the run-in but still won by over six lengths.
It completed a tumultuous 24 hours for the jockey who on St Stephen’s Day looked likely to win a chase at Limerick only for his mount to crash out through a wing at the final fence.
Auvergnat’s trainer Enda Bolger also revealed that his latest riding protégé had been first into work on Christmas Day, mucking out and riding out.
“That’s why he’s getting the chances he’s getting. It’s not by accident. Mr McManus is always great to give young lads a chance,” Bolger said.
The Paddy Power Steeplechase
Grade B, €200,000, 3m100y, 5yo+
27 ran
Going: Good
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Auvergnat (FR) 28/1 | D J McInerney (3) 10-5 |
E Bolger | 8 | |
| 2nd | 6½ | Vieux Morvan (FR) 33/1 | J J Slevin 10-11 |
Joseph P O'Brien | 9 |
| 3rd | 2½ | Fitzhenry (IRE) 25/1 | P D Kennedy 10-7 |
P Nolan | 6 |
| 4th | ½ | Solomn Grundy (IRE) 6/1 | H Morgan (7) 10-3 |
H De Bromhead | 8 |
| 5th | nk | Any Second Now (IRE) 5/1f | M P Walsh 11-1 |
T M Walsh | 6 |
| 6th | hd | Blazer (FR) 16/1 | J S McGarvey 10-13 |
W P Mullins | 7 |
| 7th | 3½ | Dounikos (FR) 33/1 | C Brassil (5) 11-9 |
G Elliott | 7 |
| 8th | ¾ | Rogue Angel (IRE) 28/1 | J W Kennedy 10-11 |
G Elliott | 10 |
| 9th | 2 | General Principle (IRE) 33/1 | Ms L O'Neill 11-4 |
G Elliott | 9 |
| 10th | 2¾ | Scoir Mear (IRE) 20/1 | C D Maxwell 10-4 |
T Mullins | 8 |
| 11th | 3 | Timeforwest (IRE) 33/1 | Mark Bolger 10-3 |
Peter Fahey | 6 |
| 12th | 6 | Carlingford Lough (IRE) 22/1 | B J Geraghty 11-4 |
J E Kiely | 12 |
| 13th | 1¾ | Orion D'Aubrelle (FR) 40/1 | Mr R Deegan (5) 10-9 |
W P Mullins | 5 |
| 14th | 27 | Woods Well (IRE) 33/1 | B Hayes 10-12 |
G Elliott | 7 |
| 15th | 1½ | Polidam (FR) 20/1 | P Townend 11-5 |
W P Mullins | 9 |
| 16th | 1¼ | De Name Escapes Me (IRE) (ex14) 13/2 | N P Madden 10-7 |
N Meade | 8 |
| 17th | 2½ | Pairofbrowneyes (IRE) 16/1 | D E Mullins 11-7 |
W P Mullins | 9 |
| 18th | nk | Borice (FR) 12/1 | D N Russell 10-11 |
G Elliott | 7 |
| 19th | 41 | Arkwrisht (FR) 25/1 | Rachael Blackmore 10-11 |
Joseph P O'Brien | 8 |
| PU | Livelovelaugh (IRE) 9/1 | R Walsh 10-11 |
W P Mullins | 8 | |
| PU | Drumconnor Lad (IRE) 50/1 | R C Colgan 10-7 |
A Keatley | 8 | |
| PU | Minella Beau (IRE) 28/1 | D J Mullins 10-6 |
W P Mullins | 7 | |
| F | Squouateur (FR) 20/1 | D Meyler 10-12 |
G Elliott | 7 | |
| F | Goose Man (IRE) 22/1 | L A McKenna 10-8 |
T J Taaffe | 6 | |
| F | Black Scorpion (IRE) 14/1 | S W Flanagan 10-5 |
E McNamara | 7 | |
| UR | Jett (IRE) 25/1 | S F O'Keeffe (7) 11-6 |
Mrs J Harrington | 7 | |
| UR | Snugsborough Benny (IRE) 12/1 | D F O'Regan 10-10 |
L P Cusack | 8 | |
| NR | Slowmotion (FR) | L A McKenna (7) 11-0 |
Joseph P O'Brien | 6 | |
| NR | Killer Miller (IRE) | S J Crimin (5) 10-5 |
N Meade | 9 | |
| NR | Dont Kick Nor Bite (IRE) | Reserve 2 10-2 |
R Tyner | 7 | |
| NR | Close Shave | Reserve 3 10-2 |
Mrs J Harrington | 7 |
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
PADDY POWER HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE
| YEAR | WINNER | AGE | TRAINER | JOCKEY |
| 2017 | Anibale Fly | 7 | Tony Martin | D Meyler |
| 2016 | Noble Endeavor | 7 | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 2015 | Minella Foru | 6 | Edward Harty | Barry Geraghty |
| 2014 | Living Next Door | 8 | Tony Martin | Denis O’Regan |
| 2013 | Rockyaboya | 9 | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2012 | Colbert Station | 8 | Ted Walsh | AP McCoy |
| 2011 | Cross Appeal | 5 | Noel Meade | Paul Carberry |
| 2010 | Majestic Concorde | 7 | Dermot Weld | Mr Robbie McNamara |
| 2009 | Oscar Time | 8 | Martin Lynch | Robbie Power |
| 2008 | Wheresben | 9 | Seamus Fahey | Mr Jarlath Fahey |
| 2007 | Newbay Prop | 8 | Tony Martin | Ross Geraghty |
