What had looked an easy task for Dorans Pride yesterday turned into a stroll for the Gold Cup joint favourite as he picked up the £22,750 first prize for the Hot Power Chase without barely having to break sweat.
Starting at 2 to 5, Dorans Pride followed the predicted script and stalked the pacesetting Merry Gale towards the fourth-last fence, with his three other opponents sitting in behind. It was then, however, that the race took a bizarre twist.
Rounding a marker pole, Merry Gale slipped, lost his hind legs and came to a halt, with Norman Williamson doing well to stay in the saddle. Two hundred yards later, and a race which had already looked booked for the favourite was sugarcoated. Corket took a crashing fall and brought down Opera Hat, which left only Jeffell to give Dorans Pride a semblance of a race.
It was only a semblance, though, as Richard Dunwoody only had to give his mount a slight squeeze and Dorans Pride sauntered 11 lengths clear. A distance behind, Merry Gale was hacked home by Williamson to pick up the £3,500 third prizemoney.
"He's had a third race of the season without having a race. We're getting away with murder!" said his trainer, Michael Hourigan, who will now send his stable star for the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown. "I'd have preferred to see them all stand up and make a race of it, but Dorans Pride was more ready today than he was at Clonmel. He was 75 per cent fit today, but in every sense he is a much better horse than he was last year," he added. Dunwoody said: "When I asked him to race he was good. He got a bit close to the seventh but had a good blow afterwards and I'm very happy with him."
Merry Gale will now miss the Tripleprint Gold Cup but could meet Dorans Pride in the Erisson. "He was enjoying himself but turned sharply and lost his hind legs," Williamson explained.
Khairabar's sparkling debut over flights in the Powers Whiskey Hurdle had less to do with chance; rather whether this talented Flat colt would take to his new trade. The answer was a resounding yes as he cruised home by three lengths. He may now take on the unbeaten Rainbow Frontier in the Dennys Juvenile Hurdle at Christmas.
"He was a fit horse coming from John (Oxx), who recommended him very highly. If he jumped we knew he'd be good, and we were happy he would jump," said his trainer, Christy Roche.
Khairabar's confident display was positively meek, however, compared to Paul Carberry's performance on Native Estates in the Gowla Novice Hurdle. With Oonagh's Star setting a fast pace, Carberry dropped Native Estates right out and only seriously appeared on the scene turning for home.
Oonagh's Star and Dudley Do Right were battling it out in front, but a motionless Carberry eventually committed Native Estates only after the last and put Noel Meade's horse in front with only yards to spare.
"I might have got there a bit too soon," Carberry grinned as an admiring Meade commented: "That was as good a ride as Paul will ever give a horse, even out in the country."
Carberry also gave a confident waiting display to win the Gowla Handicap Hurdle on Spirit Dancer.
