Drop The Anchor and Simon Torrens (nearside) come to beat Champagne Gold and Rachael Blackmore© Photo Healy Racing
Simon Torrens was in dreamland after adding to his earlier gains on A Wave Of The Sea at the Dublin Racing Festival, doubling up in Leopardstown’s Grade B Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle aboard Drop The Anchor The pair are owned by J P McManus.
McManus earlier secured Grade One honours over at Sandown with Sporting John, and giving another handler a big success the Limerick man has Drop The Anchor in training with Pat Fahy.
Paddy Power now go 12/1 1st show on Drop The Anchor, non runner no bet for the County Hurdle at Cheltenham.
For in-form team of Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore Champagne Gold looked like he might have produced a winning run from before the last.
However he ultimately found too gritty an opponent in Drop The Anchor. A length and a quarter eventually split them as they drew on by five lengths from Saint D’oroux in third.
The favourite, The Moyglass Flyer also for McManus, was found to have an over-reach on his right fore after pulling up.
“I'm delighted. I was looking at a full parade ring beforehand thinking to myself 'imagine being the best horse in this with all the big names' but I won it,” said Fahy.
“I thought early in the race he wasn't winging them all and he had to be tough. He needs a test at the finish of a race.
“He probably would have gone very close in Fairyhouse if he hadn't been stopped.
“I was afraid the ground would dry out as he ran here at Christmas last season on quick ground and never jumped a hurdle, he will not handle it.
“He's not big but he's really tough. It took him a while to win but he needed time to strengthen up.
“I arrived here not long before Simon won earlier and I said 'well that's probably me gone now because he'll never win the two of them'.
“He's some rider and it's great to see another potential champ coming along.”
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined The Moyglass Flyer, trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to have an overreach on his right fore.
P. Townend, rider of Buildmeupbuttercup (GB) trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stopped quickly.
(GC & EM)
