Senecia shocks El Fabiolo in Webster Cup Senecia (50/1) caused a giant-killing feat in winning Navan’s Grade 2 BoyleSports Webster Cup Chase today, defeating top chaser El Fabiolo to provide the Halley family with another big-race success at the Co Meath course. Former Arkle Chase winner El Fabiolo had blundered away his chances when starting 2/9 favourite for last March’s Champion Chase and, in bypassing Cheltenham this year, was bidding to get back on track in today’s race. Held up behind the leaders, El Fabiolo (4/11f) went in pursuit of front-runner Senecia from the second-last but failed to quicken as 138-rated Senecia, under Philip Enright, held on to famously score by 1.25 lengths. It was a fifth Grade 2 success for weighing room stalwart Enright, who regularly takes 400 rides per season, while trainer Vincent Halley had previously succeeded in Navan’s similarly-classified 2016 Fortria Chase, with Arctic Skipper. The trainer's father and successful owner Laurence Halley, who often throws his hat in the ring for big races, hoarsely reported “wonderful, wonderful! “He is a brave horse and is a great jumper. He jumped as well as any of them in the Fortria (third in November). He has been highly tried and we thought the ground would find him out today, but he handled it. "He was a £16,000 foal who we kept as a Covid carry-over and Navan has been a lucky place for me. I won the Fortria with Arctic Skipper under Sean Flanagan, when we got home a short head from all the big boys again! "I'd say it will on to be Fairyhouse or Punchestown next with Senecia." Jockey Enright later added "I was disappointed with him at Leopardstown, but he had the best recent form having finished third here in the Fortria when Solness was second. "He likes the track, he's a great jumper and in fairness to Vinny (Halley, trainer), he's always had great faith in this horse. He didn't turn up in Killarney when he won and he didn't turn up today, so we'll have to leave him at home in future. "I got a great kick out of that because Vinny has great faith in this horse. It's great for him and his father, Lar. He's a horse with plenty of ability, but he just needs things to fall right for him." Quotes from Michael Graham
