Tony McCoy only rode his first Fairyhouse winner on Sunday but the British champion jockey made his mark with a vengeance yesterday by scoring a big-race double highlighted by Like-A-Butterfly's Powers Gold Cup triumph.
The veteran 11-year-old mare bounced back to her brilliant best with a last-gasp surge past Forget The Past that owed plenty to McCoy's power in the saddle.
It certainly put paid to the talk of retirement that surrounded Like-A-Butterfly's previous start at Cheltenham and in the process justified quite a gamble that saw her price tumble to 7 to 2 favouritism.
"She's a great mare, one of those that only come along once in a lifetime," said trainer Christy Roche and his enthusiasm was understandable considering it was Like-A-Butterfly's 11th win from just 16 career starts and a fifth Grade One.
"She didn't start racing until she was seven so she hasn't had a hard time. Christy thought about retiring her but after Cheltenham he told me she was starting to come back to herself," said owner JP McManus.
No one was more surprised by that than Roche who added: "I didn't think she would be back. She was very sick after Christmas and I was actually disappointed by her run at Cheltenham."
McCoy was one of those who wasn't unhappy with that SunAlliance fifth and yesterday was confident of catching Forget The Past who had gone for home at the fourth last.
With Watson Lake failing to stay it was up to Like-A-Butterfly to pursue him on her own but it was only in the final strides that she managed it.
"At the last I wasn't sure we'd get there but she battled really well," said McCoy. "I thought it was a great run at Cheltenham but maybe this is her perfect trip."
Punchestown could be on Like-A-Butterfly's agenda if the ground doesn't firm up and the same festival is also the plan for Ground Ball on whom McCoy was also at his strongest in the Dan Moore Chase.
Ground Ball held on by only half a length from Ulaan Baatar to make up for an unlucky exit in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham.
The 25,212 jackpot was not won yesterday and that was principally due to Bon Temps Rouler's all the way 20 to 1 shocker in the Menolly Homes Handicap Hurdle which paid 62 to 1 on the Tote.
The favourite, Mansony, ridden by Nina Carberry, tracked the winner, who was ridden by her brother, Philip, all the way to the straight where they looked all over the winners until a mistake at the second last changed the complexion of the race.
It became a dour struggle and it was Bon Temps Rouler who eventually held on by three parts of a length.
Justified made up for a disappointing effort at Cheltenham when winning the Grade Two novice hurdle and could be sent on a chasing career next season.
"We haven't schooled him yet but there are a lot of good hurdlers around at the moment," said trainer Dusty Sheehy. "He was buzzed up the whole time he was in Cheltenham and we had no hope from day one."
