Neville Hotels Novice Chase |
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| Grade 1, Leopardstown 13:45 €100,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1  |
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1 Grangeclare West 4/1
2 Corbetts Cross 13/8F
3
Flooring Porter 3/1
6 ran Distances: 6l, 10l, 2¾l
Time: 6m 37.30s (slow by 49.30s)
Laying down a marker 👀
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) December 29, 2023
Grangeclare West surges clear of Corbetts Cross and Flooring Porter to land the G1 @NevilleHotels Novice Chase ⚡️#LRCChristmas | @WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend pic.twitter.com/z4WTyDSsxb
Grangeclare West, acquired for £430,000 by Cheveley Park Stud, showcased his potential and justified his price tag with an impressive victory today. The seven-year-old had initially demonstrated promise with a point-to-point win, followed by victories in a Punchestown bumper and a maiden hurdle at Navan.
However, the latter part of the previous campaign saw Grangeclare West underperforming in Grade One races at Naas and Leopardstown. Despite a rebound at Punchestown in the spring, questions lingered as he entered the current season. Making his chasing debut at Naas last month, the Presenting gelding led from start to finish, dispelling doubts about his abilities.
In the Neville Hotels Novice Chase, Grangeclare West, ridden by Paul Townend, asserted himself confidently, showcasing excellent travel and jumping skills. Taking the lead around the home turn, he maintained control down the home straight, eventually securing a six-length victory over the favorite, Corbetts Cross, without much exertion.
Paul Townend, who also rode Thursday's Savills Chase winner Galopin Des Champs, expertly guided Grangeclare West to the stands' side rail in the final stretch. The final fence posed no challenge, sealing the convincing win. Flooring Porter, a dual Stayers' Hurdle hero, led for a significant part of the three-mile contest but faltered in the straight, finishing well-held in third place.
Mullins said: “I didn’t expect that now – I thought he would run well, but that was a top race.
“Paul was worried about him pulling too hard and he’d want to be as fit as he is because he just pulled his arms out for the three miles. To do that, on that ground and win like that going away was a huge performance.
“His jumping was excellent. He just came out of Paul’s hands at the first fence and from then on Paul was just trying to settle him back. He got him back jumping normally.
“He’s just a natural chaser.”
QuinnBet make Grangeclare West their 4-1 favourite, cut from 14-1, for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and Mullins confirmed that race as a likely target.
He added: “He might go for the Brown Advisory and Fact To File (won at Leopardstown on Thursday) might go for the Turners. We’ll see, it is a nice problem to have.
“We might come back here to the Dublin Racing Festival first. I’m delighted to win a Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas with him.”
The Closutton handler also confirmed another high-class staying novice chaser in his yard, Klassical Dream, will miss the rest of the campaign after suffering injury when being prepared for this race.
He said: “Unfortunately, he is out for the season after his last bit of work. We will just let the injury settle down over Christmas, but it is very unfortunate.”
Neville Hotels Novice Steeplechase
3m, €100,000 guaranteed
6 ran
Going: Soft, Soft to Heavy in places
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Grangeclare West 7 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend 4/1
2 6 Corbetts Cross 6 11-10 Emmet Mullins Mark Walsh 13/8F
3 10 Flooring Porter 8 11-10 Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue 3/1
4 2¾ Flanking Maneuver 8 11-10 Noel Meade Michael O'Sullivan 18/1
5 15 Favori De Champdou 8 11-10 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy 3/1
6 53 Tullyhogue Fort 7 11-10 John F O'Neill Mr P J O'Neill 300/1
