Fleet Commander rose to the road in an exhilarating, head-turning end to the Handicap Hurdle Cup choir below the well-governed management of demanding 5-pound Shane Fitzgerald.
Skilled winner Gordon Elliott, who was fired at 50/1, was one of many few assured to benefit from the take a look at floor and massive subject, having received the 23 runners handicap in Navan in early December.
Ashdal Bob coach Jessica Harrington put the wise fractures forward for the situations and was nonetheless going properly up entrance, leaping within the final three lengths forward of his 22 rivals.
Nevertheless, the stamina depletion ground proved to be dented. Mount Jack Foley drained quickly after, as Fastersloe and the fleet captain carried the seven-year-old, who shortly light, ultimately ending third, one other 5 and a half lengths behind the entrance two within the two-mile and five-Frlong competitors.
Mount Darragh O’Keefe appeared to have succeeded in overcoming the scrap and in a huge battle, he put his head in entrance briefly, just for the fleet captain to decrease his head when it was vital to attain with a brief head.
At all times chasing pace, Cambrund did not discover a lot of a second and completed fourth.
This victory was Elliot’s first on the pageant after he missed a meet final 12 months resulting from his suspension when a photograph surfaced on social media of him perched on a useless horse on his horse.
World Citizen shocked 28/1 within the two-mile annual Johnny Henderson Grand Problem Cup.
Keelan Woods smiles after World Citizen’s victory on the Grand Annual
Elliott-trained Andy Dufresne (a 100/30 favourite), named after the primary protagonist within the blockbuster film The Shawshank Redemption, ultimately acquired out of jail and delivered a problem approaching second place, however by then the chicken had flown.
The ten-year-old world nationwide, who has been battling his first fencing since December 2020, has at all times been on the identical web page, though he appeared cooked for secondary honors when Editeur Du Gite got here out fourth.
Nevertheless, Mount Kelan Woods was shortly on the phrases once more and after leaping off the climb in second place, it turned clear with ease.
Though he was alone up entrance when Editeur Du Gite drained, the world nationwide educated by Ben Pauling by no means gave the impression to be caught by the collar by Andy Dufresne, and went on to attain by three lengths, with Frero Banbou, almost approaching High of the hill, keep on three extra lengths firmly in third.
