Fr Gilligansvoyge, near side, beats Matthews Hill© Photo Healy Racing
Fr Gilligansvoyge belied a massive market drift to win the Stanley Asphalt Hunters Steeplechase for the Bishopscourt Cup at Punchestown.
He drifted right out to 25/1 from 5/1 in the morning, but the market got it spectacularly wrong.
The 10-year-old gelding travelled on the drying ground for Pat Taaffe and took closer order four out.
He jumped into the lead at the next from Matthews Hill who made a mistake. The latter soon regained his stride and got on terms.
The pair jumped two out together and they battled their way to the last. Fr Gilligansvoyge led narrowly there and a better jump saw him race away from it best to win going away in the closing stages by two and a-half lengths. Runner-up Matthews Hill was an 8/1 chance. Lesssaidthebetter was 16 lengths adrift in third at 16/1 having been backed from 28/1.
Trainer John Carr said: "Punchestown races is always a big deal for us. Richard (Farrell, owner) was at school with me, many years ago, and we've been friends ever since.
“I've had seven horses for himself and his late father over the years but we never had any luck and unfortunately Dick passed away about 18 months ago. It's nice to win in the end.
“He dead-heated (in Borris House) with the horse (Three By Two) that won the Ladies Cup on Tuesday. You don't like shouting too loud, but we were quietly confident.
“Richard lives in Bishopscourt House in Kill where the Cup originated from, with the Kennedy family, back in 1880.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
