Synchronised – last season’s Welsh National winner – upset the Cheltenham Gold Cup pretensions of Rubi Light and Quito De La Roque when beating the pair in the featured Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown at odds of 8/1.
Tony McCoy delivered his mount to challenge Rubi Light (9/4) at the last and the pair kept on stoutly to win by eight-and-a-half-lengths. 13/8 favourite Quito De La Roque was two-and-a-half-lengths back in third.
Synchronised’s efforts for trainer Jonjo O’Neill this year came in two hurdle races – seventh in a handicap at Aintree in October and third in a Grade 3 at Haydock in November – but he relished this test of stamina over fences.
“That’s brilliant, I couldn’t be more delighted. Jonjo has done a fantastic job and he got a great ride,” Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said.
“I thought the ground might be too quick for him but he handled it really well. In fairness he ran well in his two hurdle races on good ground.
“He had 11-11 in the Welsh National at Chepstow and it was going to be a slog so we made the decision to come here. I was a bit worried about the ground but we decided to take our chance.
“That gives us an idea of where we are going with him and we can look at some of the good races. He gets the trip and he jumps.
“He’ll get an entry in the Gold Cup. We’ll leave it to Jonjo and we’ll wait and see. He had a hard enough race there and more than likely will go straight to Cheltenham.
“He’ll also get an entry in the English Grand National.”
Jockey Tony McCoy added: “Jonjo was very happy coming here with him. That was a good sign. I don’t necessarily think he needs soft ground as he has got great stamina.
“If he does run in the Gold Cup he won’t disgrace himself.”
Rubi Light’s trainer Robbie Hennessy focused on the positives from his charge’s runner-up finish. He said: “We know he definitely stays three miles. He could go for the Red Mills or the Hennessy.”
Colm Murphy, trainer of Quito De La Roque, said: “I was very pleased. He would prefer more of a test. He ran well for a second season novice and we’ll look at the Hennessy now.”
Synchronised had been as big as 20/1 in the morning before being returned at 8/1.
The winner is now a 10/1 shot for the Gold Cup with Paddy Power while Stan James go 12/1.
Michael Graham
