God's makes Punchestown his Own

"He was awesome today," was Paddy Brennan's assessment after God's Own added to his Aintree gains in the Grade 1 Boylesports Champion Chase at Punchestown.

Victorious on his previous foray at this Festival, in the Grade 1 novice here in 2014 under Barry Geraghty, God's Own was sent off a 9/1 chance for the Tom George yard, and his owners the Crossed Fingers Partnership.

God's Own of course won the Melling Chase at Aintree, when Vautour fell as a 1/5 shot, and the latter went to post this time at 4/9.

Things looked to be going to plan for Vautour until Ruby Walsh began to niggle in the straight. He got under the second last a bit and he was soon in big trouble.

To his credit 'the jolly' rallied, but God's Own was definitely best on the day, and he crossed the line with two lengths in hand. Simonsig ran a fabulous race in his first chase since the Arkle win in 2013, and he was a length and a quarter back in third.

"You're putting doubts in your mind that he was a lucky winner last time - you think he was lucky - was he good enough. But around here, it's the first time I've ridden him here, he's a different horse - unbelievable," added Brennan.

"Going right handed and the undulations really suit him. It's lovely to win a Grade 1 here in Ireland - it's something I've always wanted to do.

"I wasn't in control for the first mile - he was very free. But I just let him get on with it."

For his part George stated: "He's won here before and likes going right-handed. We've had to step up his work since Aintree as he was putting weight on."

"He was flat out the whole way over that trip," reflected Ruby Walsh meanwhile, on Vautour's effort.

For the Champion Chase 2017 God's Own is 16/1 with Paddy Power and 20/1 with Boylesports.

(AM & EM)