Momus cements Meade/O'Hare alliance

Momus ran away with the two and a half mile bumper to give the new alliance of Noel Meade and Mark O'Hare another winner.

He sailed into the lead approaching the home turn and drew further and further clear in the final furlong to win as he pleased by 13 lengths at 3/1.

He led home a Gigginstown one-two as Desir Du Large (12/1) took second spot. Another Cyclone finished third at 11/2. Small Farm the well backed 6/5 favourite, weakened right out of contention before the home straight and was beaten over 50 lengths into fifth.

Noel Meade said: "We thought he'd win and he did but then we thought the other lad (Curley Bill) would too and he didn't.

“We're after having a serious run with the bumper horses and the one we thought was the best one got beat in Ballinrobe. I'd say maybe the ground beat him.

“He's a nice big horse (the winner) and he wasn't showing us much early on at all. Back at Christmas time you wouldn't think he was ever going to win anything.

“He's big and he's tall and I'd say when he gets the summer's grass he'll turn out to be a nice horse next season jumping. He's going to be a chaser in time and is a grand big horse.

“In the last six weeks he's turned inside out.

“He wasn't doing much in front and I had warned him not to go to the front. I was up in the stand's thinking 'where are you going' but it worked out.

“I often think in those two-and-a-half mile bumpers everyone thinks they are on a stayer and they go too quick. Then you need a stayer to win one because you have to come from behind. They are really all slow anyway and that's why they are in the two-and-a-half mile race.

“We are having a great run and Nina (Carberry) went too soon!

“Mark has been around for so long and it's very hard to get a fella with the experience he has with a 5lb claim. You nearly have a free claim with him.

“It all happened by luck as he just came down to ride out to keep himself fit. One thing led to another and he ended up getting going.

“I can't take him off now anyway!”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson