I Am Maximus and Jody McGarvey (nearest) beat Found A Fifty © Photo Healy Racing
Irish National winner I Am Maximus made a stunning return to action at Fairyhouse when claiming the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding had grabbed the headlines here at Easter when winning the €500,000 marathon contest.
He went to post an easy-to-back 11/1 shot on his comeback run and his stamina kicked in late on in the two-and-a-half mile contest.
Jody McGarvey 's mount came to press front-runner Letsbeclearaboutit at the second last but he was untidy at the fence.
The Authorized gelding gained a narrow lead from Found A Fifty going to the final fence and popped the last before going on to record a two-and-a-half length win.
Mullins said:- “That’s a nice bonus on his last day as a novice. He won his maiden in nice circumstances here and has come back now to win a Grade 1 novice.
“He’s a total character as you could see from his early days racing. Paul gave him a great ride in the Irish National and Jody gets on well with him and gave him a super ride there.
“He looks a class horse now rather than a handicapper so maybe we’ll have to make different plans for him now.
“We were hoping he’d have a chance over the trip and the fact that it was his last day as a novice to give him the opportunity. He’s clearly improved from last year and obviously shows a liking for Fairyhouse.
“He has a funny action when you look at him head on and I’d imagine softer ground is to his liking.
“I thought he was beaten turning for home and to produce what he did up the straight was very good.
“This year we were maybe looking at going for the English National and whether we change and go for Grade 1 races now I’m not sure. We’ll have to have a word with Frank (Berry) and JP and see what they want to do.
“I didn’t speak to Paul yet but for me Sharjah clearly didn’t like the ground and you could see that from his head action.”
McGarvey told RTE:- “It's nice to have rides on these good horses on the big days, let alone a horse with a chance. When they put it in and they actually win it's a great feeling.
“I knew he'd stay well. He has his own idea about things and his jumping can be a bit tricky at times but on a whole he jumped well today.
“Coming into the straight I knew I'd hit the line well but I didn't really want to be in front too soon. I knew once I got upsides the horse in front I'd definitely stay.
“He met the last well and galloped all the way out to the line, he has a bit of class too.
“Last year I spent most of the year on the sidelines with a few niggly injuries and a couple of surgeries. Thankfully I got everything straightened out.
“When you come back after being away for such a long time it's hard to get yourself going.
“Thankfully riding for the people that I am, in Mr McManus and Frank Berry, has been huge. They are giving me the chances to get on these horses and I'll be forever grateful to them.”
Paddy Power and Betfair both made the winner a 12/1 shot (from 33/1) for the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
(Additional quotes by Alan Magee)
