5 months ago
Affordale Fury delivered a first Grade One victor for County Down proprietor Philip Polly successful a thrilling Savills Chase astatine Leopardstown connected Sunday.
Trained by Noel Meade, nan seven-year-old started and vanished nan three-mile title successful good shape to tear up nan script.
Much of nan pre-race communicative focused connected a rematch of March's Cheltenham Gold Cup erstwhile Inothewayurthinkin denied Galopin Des Champs a third-straight win, but that duel grounded to materialise this time.
Instead, it was those successful reddish and achromatic celebrating arsenic Sam Ewing guided Affordale Fury (7-1) to a large win.
"I can't judge it - what a week we've had," a delighted Polly told RTE Sport.
"We won nan Bumper connected Boxing Day and now we've rocked up and won nan Savills."
Champ Kiely was an early faller connected nan level arsenic Affordale Fury sewage retired successful beforehand of what was a bunched field.
It remained wide unfastened heading into nan last 2 hurdles erstwhile favourite Galopin Des Champs made a move.
However, nan Willie Mullins-trained favourite had to settee for 3rd arsenic Affordale Fury responded brilliantly to surge location from 2024 Grand National victor I Am Maximus successful 2nd (50-1).
It capped a superb 2 days for Ewing, who was onboard Favori De Champdou and Solness for Grade One wins connected Saturday.
"I wanted to beryllium bully and affirmative going into nan first and spot wherever we landed," said Ewing.
"He travelled really strong, winged fences for athletics and location was nary coming backmost from it. He was gutsy and is simply a due equine successful nan making."
The Christmas Hurdle went to 2nd favourite Teahupo (5-2), who produced a beardown decorativeness to move nan tables connected Bob Olinger (11-1) from their gathering astatine Cheltenham successful March.
It ensured different Grade One triumph for trainer Gordon Elliott, who had 2 large wins arsenic portion of a four-timer astatine Leopardstown connected Saturday.
Rocky's Diamond made nan early running, opening a spread connected nan chasing battalion which was led by Ballyburn, and maintained nan advantage until nan 2nd hurdle from past arsenic Teahupo, ridden by Jack Kennedy, jumped into nan lead.
There was nary looking backmost contempt a situation from Henry de Bromhead's Bob Olinger, pinch title favourite Ballyburn (13-8) placing third.
"When we jumped nan beforehand astatine nan 2nd past and I sewage him onto nan straight, he did reasonably well," said Kennedy.
"He has been immoderate equine to maine and everyone who is progressive pinch him - it's difficult to get ones for illustration him."
