Darwins Fox leads over the last from eventual winner Sword Of Destiny in second© Photo Healy Racing
The 5/4 favourite Sword Of Destiny took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase providing his owners Gigginstown House Stud and his jockey Davy Russell with trebles while also supplying his trainer Noel Meade with a double.
The grey son of Shantou was a smart hurdler last season and won his two starts over timber including a Grade 3 contest at Cork in November.
He was sent off the 9/10 favourite to score on his first start over fences at Punchestown last month but a bad mistake at the last put pay to his chances there and he had to settle for second behind Buckers Bridge.
The Henry De Bromhead trained Darwins Fox (11/2) attempted to make all today under Andrew Lynch with Sword Of Destiny close in behind.
Sword of Destiny travelled well into the straight and was second at the last before he took over on the run-in where he was ridden along and kept on well close home to score by six lengths at the line from Darwins Fox in second. Tadhg finished twenty lengths back in third under Robbie Power for Vincent Ward at 33/1 while Alderwood (3/1) was beaten in third when he slipped up inside the final furlong.
Thankfully both Alderwood and Tony McCoy got up none the worse after their mishap.
Noel Meade said afterwards: "He had such a hard race the last day that we had to go easy on him. I decided to come back in trip and it worked out on that ground.
"Davy was delighted with him and he jumped great. I told Davy to take his time and for once he listened to me!
"I think this is a hell of a horse and he was unlucky the last day. The original plan was to go for the Drinmore had he won the last day but I’m not sure where he will go now. We will have to see how he fits in with the other Gigginstown horses."
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
