Mystical Power and Mark Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
J.P. McManus added to his long list of recent big-race wins today as the recently crowned UK-champion owner landed Punchestown's Grade 1 KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle with Mystical Power (2/1f), in partnership with John Magnier and Rich Ricci.
Mystical Power formed part of McManus' recent Aintree big-races haul — which included the Grand National with I Am Maximus, and today, under regular rider Mark Walsh, arrived from off the pace to eventually defeat Firefox by 1.75 lengths.
Supreme Novices Hurdle winner Slade Steel challenged early in the home straight but faded to finished 4.25 lengths further behind in third.
By Galileo and out of Annie Power, the winner is owned in partnership with the Champion Hurdle-winning mare's owner Rich Ricci and Coolmore maestro John Magnier.
After the race winning trainer Willie Mullins, himself crowned UK's champion trainer on Saturday, reported “Mystical Power showed resilience and toughness and he's been improving all season. I didn't think we had much chance at the second last and Mark said he was going as fast as he could coming around the last bend.
“The race turned into a staying race with the other two protagonists (Firefox and Slade Steel) playing their cards going to the last. They were flat out and then he just outstayed them with a good jump at the last.
“It's fantastic that he's progressed as the season has gone on and I think Annie Power is coming out in him. She showed plenty of ability but he didn't show any ability early. When he was a three-year-old he didn't show me much ability and at the end of his four-year-old year he started to show a little bit.”
Regarding a possible Champion Hurdle campaign next season, he added “we'll have to look at that, there is a lot of thinking to do between now and then but you'd certainly have to look at that.
“I don't think he'll go novice chasing as he looks more of a hurdler than a chaser and could easily step up in trip watching that performance. Mark said he found it tough with the amount of speed that was in the early part of the race.
“It looked a real staying race there which would mean that he's a 2m4f hurdler and they are the sort of horses you probably need to win a Champion Hurdle so maybe it's all pointing in that direction.”
Firefox's trainer Gordon Elliott later commented "to be fair there was no excuse, if he made a mistake or something happened in the race and he got beat I would have been disappointed but the horse ran his heart out again and galloped to the line.
“There was nothing between them in Aintree and nothing between them again today, they are two very good horses.
“I'm disappointed he didn't win but delighted with the horse and the performance. He's going to be a lovely chaser for next year.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
