Tout Est Permis (Sean Flanagan) asserts from Mr Diablo (David Mullins)© Photo Healy Racing
Tout Est Permis (9/1) made it two from two since joining Noel Meade when running out a good winner of the Grade B Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan.
Local handler Meade last took Proudstown Park's big prize with the Jason Titley-ridden Heist back in 1997 and here he was supplying owners Gigginstown House Stud with another Troytown following on from Tofino Bay (2012) and Empire Of Dirt (2016). Mr Diablo ran a great race for Philip Dempsey and David Mullins at odds of 50/1 but he had to give best to the Sean Flanagan-ridden former Mouse Morris runner Tout Est Permis from before the final fence.
In the end four and a half lengths separated them, with six and a half lengths back to Magic Of Light in third.
In his quest to win the race for the fifth year in succession the closest that Gordon Elliott could manage with his huge team of participants was Out Sam s effort in fifth.
The youngest horse in the field here at five, the successful grey is seen as a graded horse in the making by Flanagan.
Meanwhile Meade said: “Eddie (O'Leary - Gigginstown) said to me the other morning are you not going to run the other two in it and I said no — you can only win it once! I was very sweet on him and he worked a bomb the other day. I felt if we just keep him together now until Sunday he’ll win.
“Everything went according to plan apart from nearly getting wiped out over the far side. He travelled and jumped brilliant. It’s the biggest race here and a huge race to win.
“Sean (Flanagan) is a big help to me both at home and on the track. He says things as they are and is very constructive in his comments. He’s riding very well.
“He’s a nice horse and we’ve run him twice and he’s won well both times. The Paddy Power Chase (12/1 1st show from the sponsors) at Leopardstown is a possibility but he’ll nearly have top weight in that now.”
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Spider Web trained by Thomas Mullins, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to have blood at the nose following exercised induced pulmonary haemorrhage.
Rachael Blackmore, rider of Arkwrisht (FR) trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of Scales that her mount made a bad mistake and pulled up thereafter.
(AM & EM)
