Easy win for Big Interest as odds-on Ryehill flops Despite some late scares Big Interest (10/3) eased to an 18-length win in the Race Displays Joseph O'Reilly Hunters Chase. The youngest runner in the line-up and in front from the second, the David Christie-trained six-year-old had all his rivals off the bridle a long way from home. Blundering three out, he again wasn't foot perfect at the next, with Barry O'Neill subsequently losing his right iron. The multiple champion point-to-point rider rectified that issue before the final fence, with a flawless jump there sealing the deal for the Ray Nicholas-owned victor. A Grade 3 winner over flights and third in the Galway Plate of 2023, Hollow Games (5/1) filled the runner-up spot and was 35-lengths clear of the third. Returned the 5/6 favourite, Ryehill jumped to his left from flag fall and lost ground at every fence, with his rider Luke Shanahan eventually pulling up the Ross O'Sullivan-trained gelding before seven out. "That was a lovely one, the jumping was the winning of that. He was making ground at nearly every fence there and he has a huge stride," Christie commented. "You can see he's huge and he has just gone through a weak spell and a learning spell. Sometimes you just have to harden a horse up for a year before they become the real thing. "We just decided to keep going with him, harden him up, and then we might have a horse for next year. He's only six. "If he comes out of this, we will probably head to Punchestown. "The man on top is on fire, so it is always great to have him on your side. He lost his iron after the second last, but when the pot of gold was sitting in front of Barry, he wasn't going to come off him!" When asked about Cheltenham next year, he added: "He probably is that type of a horse, but not this year. Hopefully, he will build into a stronger horse for that next year." STEWARDS REPORTS * The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Ryehill, trained by Ross O'Sullivan, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal. * Mr L.P. Shanahan, rider of Ryehill, trained by Ross O'Sullivan, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount never travelled and jumped badly left throughout. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
