There was a surprise result to the Powers Gold Cup as Gordon Elliott’s Realt Mor made every yard of the running under an inspired ride from Davy Condon.
Formerly trained in Britain by Nicky Richards, the 10-1 shot was taking a huge step up in class after opening his Irish account at Navan. But the eight-year-old set a sound gallop, was given a breather and then kicked clear again to take the Grade One prize by two-and-a-half lengths from staying-on favourite Dedigout.
Mikael D’Haguenet was third, with the winner’s better fancied stablemate Mount Benbulben doing well to finish fourth following another poor jumping display.
Elliott said: “This lad was good at Navan last time. It looked a bad race, but the distance he won, a bad horse can’t do that. He’s a free-running type and very keen. He lives in a field 24/7 and is never in a stable. I’m not sure about Punchestown. That may be it for the year and if he doesn’t win again he doesn’t owe us.”
Of Mount Benbulben, the trainer said: “I still think he’s the best horse in the race but his jumping let him down.”
Realt Mor’s victory was the second leg of a big-race double on the card for Elliott and Condon after Mala Beach (12-1) claimed a thrilling Coolmore NH Sires Fame And Glory & Sans Frontieres Novice Hurdle.
Having finished second to Annie Power last time out, it was no surprise to see Defy Logic sent off the 11-8 favourite, but Mala Beach mowed him down late to score by a head. Elliott, who also had a double at Cork, said: “It has been some day. We’ll enjoy tonight. Mala Beach is a nice horse and a big three-mile chaser. He was flat out there from the third-last.
“That’s it for the year. He’s a smashing horse to go over fences next year.”
Call Rog (13-2 favourite) was a clearcut winner of the INH. Stallion Owners European Breeders Fund Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final for champion jockey Tony McCoy and trainer Mouse Morris.
Morris said: “He’s been running well on bottomless ground and the drier ground and trip was a big help today. I’ll talk to the boss (JP McManus, owner) and see how he comes out of this.”
Henry de Bromhead’s Juan De Gracia landed a gamble in the Fairyhouse Vets promoting Equine Health Maiden Hurdle. As big as 8-1 on Sunday morning, Juan De Gracia was sent off the 4-1 second-favourite and got the better of odds-on shot Benemeade by a length and a half.
De Bromhead said: “That was super. He’s just taken years. We bought him as a four-year-old and I thought he’d be ready to rock and roll the next spring but it’s taken time. He’s ultimately a chaser and it’s nice that he’s done that.”
Tony and Danny Mullins teamed up to take the Gleesons Butchers Novice Handicap Hurdle with 11-8 favourite Sammy Black, just holding off the late charge of Elliott’s Not For Changing by a neck.
Philip Fenton saddled the first two home in the concluding bumper, with 2-1 favourite The Tullow Tank beating stable companion Real Steel.
