In the betting ring it may have been a one horse affair, but it was a different story out on the track as Mossy Green made all to win the featured Thurles Chase by three and a half lengths yesterday afternoon.
Tiffiny Gale (50/1), a three-time point-to-point victor ran a huge race to finish second whilst Kerryhead Windfarm (the strong 5/4 favourite) could find no extra in third away from two out.
A 100/30 shot (paid E6.40 on the tote), Willie Mullins said of his eleven-year-old winner afterwards, 'we were going to sell him but there are another few races to be won with him.
'He got a handy enough lead and no one taking him on was a help. He will probably drop back in trip and will mix it between hurdling and chases.'
Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh didnt have luck on their side in the following beginners chase as their representative, Ballygoe pulled up lame after only a few strides.
This one went to Philip Rothwell and Johnny Cullen courtesy of Black Apalachi. The well-backed 3/1 favourite got the better of a stamina-sapping duel with Oscar Brunel up the straight.
'I hope Mr OBrien (handicapper) will be sympathetic as he is not a top class novice. Hopefully hell go for some of the top handicaps,' explained Rothwell.
In the other divide of the two mile six furlong beginners chase, Far From Trouble triumphed in good style by seven lengths in the hands of Tony McCoy.
Christy Roche, trainer of the full-brother to Bannow Bay said, 'he wants better ground but he is improving. We might go the easy route with him until the ground improves.'
The same connections were expected to take the two mile beginners chase as well, after touching 5/2 Kadiskar ended up the 11/8 favourite.
However he could not match second market choice, On The Net with Davy Russell up. This fellow has now provided his handler, Eoghan OGrady with his two wins under Rules.
After two runs on the level after being bought in Germany, Campanella (10/1 steady) took the opener under Paul Carberry for John Kiely on her debut over hurdles. In the Black Queen (a Galway Hurdle winner of the past) colours of Heinz Pollmeier, she beat off Theatre Diva by half a length.
'She surprised us and she probably liked the track. She won three times on the flat in France and Germany and she was bought there. She is a half-sister to Nicky Hendersons useful-hurdler, Caracciola,' said Kiely.
The highly consistent, Champion Gold lost his maiden tag at the thirteenth attempt in the two mile handicap hurdle, emphatically scoring by eleven lengths, the 8/1 shot eased after the last to beat Culrua Mist (10/1 into 7/1). Trained in Killarney by Charles Coakley, the chestnut was partnered by Niki OShea.
The independent departures of the disputing Poc Fada and Definition two out contributed to a fortuitous win for the Noreen Hayes-trained Leodotcom under Mark Watts in the handicap chase.
An open betting heat for the bumper saw Major Hayward (co second favourite), hold off the staying-on Sir Overbury for Edward OGrady and Kevin Power.
