Saint Calvados and Gavin Sheehan© Photo Healy Racing
Saint Calvados put the record straight after his Arkle Chase flop to win the Grade Three Poplar Square Chase as Footpad came a cropper at the last when looking held in second at Naas.
Pre-race Footpad drifted from 1/4 out to 4/9 and there was further cause for concern for his supporters when he dived at the third fence.
Last year's super-star novice then jumped up in the air and dragged his hind legs through the sixth.
He was virtually on the floor at the last when sprawling badly on landing, but the Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh representative was really struggling to get to grips with all the way victor, Saint Calvados, in any case.
There's a strong Irish element to the Saint Calvados story — the well-backed second favourite (10/3 into 5/2) being steered to victory by Cork-man Gavin Sheehan.
Meanwhile Dublin native Sean Tiernan is racing manager to Saint Calvados' owners, Andrew and Kate Brooks. Tycoon Prince (20s into 16s) was left to chase the Saint Des Saints gelding home after Footpad's departure, and four and a half lengths split them at the line.
For the Tingle Creek Chase Paddy Power go 9/2 from 8/1 about Saint Calvados. They are 20/1 from 33/1 about him for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
For the King George Paddy Power are 14/1 from 8s about Footpad. They go 5/1 from 7/2 about Footpad for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Winning trainer Harry Whittington said: "He'll go for the Tingle Creek next and I'm looking forward to him going over the railway fences. He was just a bit rusty over the first couple but it was a good performance.
“I’m delighted for Andrew and Kate Brooks and for the horse. You can just draw a line through the Arkle now, and he’s probably silenced the doubters. He’s come back and done it well.
“He’s a proper two-miler, and Gavin felt he was just hacking around.
“He’s only going to get better with age as he’s still a big raw horse and only five. It’s very exciting.
“He’s in the King George. I was trying to convince Andrew not to enter him so we didn’t get tempted but Andrew said you can blame it on the owner. But he’s a two-miler with that raw pace.
“After the Tingle Creek he may have a break and come out somewhere in February as a prep for Cheltenham if all goes to plan but it’s up to Andrew.
“He’s a much stronger horse now and his work has improved significantly at home. He’s more the finished article and he’ll get even stronger next year. It’s super, super exciting!”
Tingle Creek — Betfair (sponsors) 5/1 (from 8/1) Boylesports 9/2
Champion Chase (Boylesports) 4/5 (from 5/4) Altior, 9/2 (from 7/2) Footpad, Saint Calvados 12/1 (introduced).
Meanwhile Willie Mullins later said on Footpad: "He has an overreach in front. He might have got it when he made the mistake (at the third fence). He’s quite sore and to me that’s enough to stop a fluent jumper from jumping.
“He was very sore when he jogged in the stable yard after cooling down, and hopefully it’s just an overreach.”
(AM & EM)
