Ruby Walsh's successful weekend continued with victory on board Assessed in the Bailey's Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup Novice Chase at Leopardstown this afternoon. Walsh, who landed the feature contest at Cheltenham on Saturday on Rince Ri, was celebrating another big-race success today on the Willie Mullins-trained winner.
Assessed's chances were made all the easier when the favourite Moscow Flyer fell at the sixth-last fence yet he had to avoid being brought down by that rival and dropped back to last of the six remaining horses as a result. However, Walsh gathered the 8/1 chance together and thanks to some fine jumping, brought him back up alongside the leader Phariwarmer before pulling ahead to score by 11 lengths in the Grade One event with third-placed Mantles Prince a further 25 lengths back.
"We were slightly lucky with Moscow Flyer falling but it was a good performance," said Mullins afterwards. "He deserves a crack at Cheltenham now and I wouldn't be worried about faster ground for him. He can go over three miles but he has enough pace for two - I don't know what his real trip is but he is a nice horse."
Assessed was given a 25-1 quote by Paddy Power for the Arkle Chase, his Festival target, while Moscow Flyer - who is now set to go on a recovery mission at Punchestown next Saturday - remains a 5-1 chance behind 4-1 favourite Seebald.
Meanwhile, Ned Kelly threw down a convincing challenge to Istabraq as he ran away with the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle this afternoon, with Paddy Power cutting his odds from 14-1 to 11-2 to seize Istabraq's crown at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Istabraq, who will be bidding for his fourth win in the hurdling showpiece, remains favourite but is out to 2-1 and after today's fine showing from Ned Kelly, will find himself facing a tough field for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.
Liss A Paoraigh was sent into the lead at the halfway stage by Charlie Swan but was caught around the home turn by British raider Geos and by Ned Kelly and as they entered the home straight it was anybody's race. However, it was 11-8 favourite Ned Kelly who showed an impressive turn of foot and eventually won by five lengths from Liss A Paoraigh while Geos faded dramatically to finish sixth.
Ned Kelly is now likely to head for Cheltenham without another outing. "He has restored my confidence in him, he did everything I wanted him to," said trainer Edward O'Grady. " Norman said that when Mick Fitzgerald gave Geos a smack two out this fellow just came alive. I would have preferred better ground today as a faster surface gives him a chance to show his class. He could run in the Red Mills Hurdle (at Gowran Park next month) but I think it's more likely that he will go straight to Cheltenham."
British champion jockey Tony McCoy steered Direct Bearing to success in the opening Tote Account Maiden Hurdle, holding off Star Clipper by half a length. Another horse with Festival aspirations is Pietro Vanucci, the winner of the Waterford Crystal Novice Hurdle. The Noel Meade-trained six-year-old, who was bought privately by owner JP McManus in the hours before the race, is to be aimed at the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
