Tony McCoy clearly has mixed emotions about his decision to retire and that also goes for racegoers and punters, who on Sunday witnessed the multiple champion jockey at his brilliant never-say-die best on board Gilgamboa in the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.
The 7-1 shot looked well held after the second-last fence but, galvanised by McCoy, got up on the run-in to collar the long-time leader, Gitane Du Berlais, before holding off a fast finish from the late challenger The Tullow Tank.
The winning trainer, Enda Bolger, reported: “Tony has ridden a few for me but that’s the first winner we’ve had together. It’s great to win a race like this and to have that man on top. The ground was a big help. He just wasn’t right the last day and Mark Walsh looked after him.”
McCoy said: “Fair play to Enda. He was a bit disappointing in Navan last time but Enda had him in top shape. I’m delighted to ride a big winner for him before I retire. He might be a horse for the Lexus [Chase] at [Leopardstown at] Christmas if he has his conditions. He’ll be a nice ride for somebody but it won’t be me.”
The Cheltenham Festival Supreme Novice Hurdle runner-up, Shaneshill, was firmly put in his place by Douvan last month but hardly broke sweat to win the Grade Two Coolmore Novice Hurdle by 13 lengths with any amount in hand on Sunday. The other Willie Mullins runner, Outlander, emerged as a threat heading to the second flight from the finish, but an untidy leap saw Shaneshill open up a clear advantage and he never looked like being caught.
The trainer said: “I didn’t think he’d go in the conditions as it’s very tacky and soft but he handled it very well. He’ll go to Punchestown [later this month] and, on that run, it looks like he’ll stay at that trip. He’ll be going chasing next year.”
Bitofapuzzle recorded a Grade One success for the British challengers Harry Fry and Noel Fehily with an impressive display in the Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final. The seven-year-old was the 3-1 favourite on the strength of her third in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month, and displayed a smart turn of foot to gallop four and a quarter lengths clear of the pack for a convincing victory.
Fry said: “She’s been a star for us this season and they went a real gallop from the start. The conditions suited her and Noel pressed on from a long way out as she’s a three-miler, really. She’s as hard as nails and keeps improving.
“You never really know until you come here whether it’s a race too far or not but full credit to her as she’s had a number of hard races this season.
She’ll have a proper break now. She’s earned it and more. She’s made for fences and will go chasing in the autumn.”
Joseph O’Brien is in the process of switching from riding on the Flat to jumps but will not look back on Sunday’s ride in the novice handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse on Marchese Marconi with any pleasure, the jockey tipping out of the side after his mount made a mistake when leading at the last.
O’Brien, who missed the start of the new Irish Flat season at The Curragh last week owing to weight issues, instead riding over hurdles for the first time at Limerick, was having his second outing over jumps at Fairyhouse on a horse trained by his father, Aidan, and owned by JP McManus.
O’Brien Jr’s discomfort was doubled with McCoy arriving late to clinch victory on Sir Scorpion, the other horse owned by McManus in the race.
McCoy, who is due to ride the favourite Shutthefrontdoor in Saturday’s Aintree Grand National, is also on the market leader, Cantlow, in the Irish National on Monday at Fairyhouse. His mount ran a creditable race in this event last year and has slipped in the weights after a series of disappointing performances. Punters are banking on improvement with a tongue tie fitted for the first time, but that may not be as relevant as the ground with McCoy’s mount definitely better on a faster surface than he will experience.
There are no such problems on soft ground for the Jim Dreaper-trained Los Amigos (5.00), who goes well fresh and has had this race as the plan since returning with a success at this track in January. The step up in trip should be in his favour and the form he displayed as a novice last season has worked out well. The selection was fancied to run a big race in this event last season only to be pulled out owing to a setback the day before the event.
Paul Nicholls has announced that Sam Winner will not line up in Saturday’s National, the trainer preferring to aim his charge at the Scottish version at Ayr on 18 April and give his runner more time to recover from his Cheltenham Gold Cup run last month when he was pulled up. Meanwhile Liam Treadwell, who won the National on board the 100-1 shot Mon Mome in 2009, has been booked to ride Monbeg Dude.
