Mixed feelings on the Savills Chase: 'People are backing this horse because he won a Gold Cup' The Savills Chase provided a festive spectacle at Leopardstown over Christmas. From the start, Affordale Fury took a prominent position, moving to the lead by the third fence and maintaining a strong rhythm throughout, despite occasionally jumping to the right. I Am Maximus began at the rear but steadily made ground approaching the third last fence, closing strongly in the final stages. Galopin Des Champs, the pre-race favourite, stayed close to the leaders, taking over after the second last fence but could not sustain his advantage, eventually finishing third. Affordale Fury rallied after being headed, regained the lead before the last fence, and showed stamina on the run-in to win by 21/2 lengths. Our team gave their views on the big Grade 1. Huge step forward for Fury Speaking on irishracing.com’s Irish Angle Emma Nagle tells of the winners lack of luck: “I suppose the Savills was a bit of a shock winner. Affordale fury took a massive step forward. He'd been maybe a little bit unlucky. “He was second in the Albert Bartlett a few years ago and things probably just didn't really go right for him and he missed periods of time and a few intended targets but he's a horse who put it together on the day and you have to give him all the credit for Sam Ewing.” Emma continued: “I thought Galopin Des Champs had a very good race to be honest and I was surprised to see him go out to 7-1 for the Gold Cup after. “After jumping the last the crowd got behind him, he looked like he was going to power up like we've seen him do so many times in Leopardstown. “But just the lack of a run and maybe factoring in that Willie's horses aren't flying at the moment. He probably just blew up coming up the home straight at Leopardstown. “I take massive positives from it to be honest. I'd fancy him to kick on again to the Dublin Racing Festival or Cheltenham.” Inothewayurthinkin but we don’t like it Inothewayurthinkin left a sour taste in a few viewers' mouths over the weekend. The Irish Angle team gave their opinions on the horse and his campaign. Paddy Flood is not impressed: “I think Inothewayurthinkin was a joke of a run to be honest. “I think his first two runs are jokes of runs. I mean do you pull in the stewards at this stage and say listen what are we doing with this horse you know it's a Gold Cup winner. “He's always going to attract support because he's a Gold Cup winner. People are backing this horse on his name and that he won a Gold Cup”. Emma Nagle added: “I can't really understand it. We were previewing the race this time last week, we were all kind of scratching our heads to see how he was 9/4 at the time this time last week and drifted out to 13/2 before the off. “Look, it's probably no secret that he's always being campaigned for one race. But it's massively disappointing to see a Gold Cup winner running like that, in pretty much every race outside of the festival. “I'm not a big fan of the horse myself. And yeah, it was a bizarre one.” Bloodstock view from Holly Harte Affordale Fury was bred by Deirdre Connolly out of the unplaced race mare No Greater Fury. He is by the great Affinisea, who is the busiest stallion in Ireland and the UK who stands at the late Ronnie O’Neills Whytemount Stud in Co. Kilkenny. The mare has only produced one other winner, also by Affinisea. Trained by Noel Meade he has been relatively consistent in his campaigns. Watch the full show
