Graphic example of class

In hindsight, it had to happen. Just when we thought we had the Ladbroke Hurdle tapped, after 10 years of seeing favourites blown out of the water, Graphic Equaliser didn't so much win as pulverise the opposition in Saturday's big race.

Also in hindsight, it seems so obvious that he should have done so. A horse who is now as low as 16 to 1 for the Champion Hurdle, racing off 10 st against handicappers? A horse who was raised 16 lb by the handicapper yesterday? Saturday's 5 to 1 should have been like taking candy off a baby.

But it's never that easy. Under its various guises, Arthur Moore has now won the race six times, proof of an almost eerie ability to get horses right when it matters most. Yet it had been 10 years since he had last tasted Ladbroke success, and he admitted: "Luck is so important. Joyful Noise, Bitofabanter and Family Way could all have won this with just a little better fortune."

True, but it's hard not to remember Gary Player's line about the harder he worked, the luckier he got. Graphic Equaliser's life had been planned around winning the Ladbroke since he joined Moore from Frank Lacy's yard last August. One encouraging prep run, a potential winning weight, enthusiastic owners on at fancy prices, and then it all came down to Conor O'Dwyer guiding Graphic Equaliser through a potential minefield.

As the field of 20 ran towards the second last, it seemed for a horrible second as if an explosion was likely. Stuck behind a wall of horses, O'Dwyer had to sit and suffer as Hard News and Notcomplainingbut continued the fight for the front they had begun at the start. Luck can get horses out of such situations, but superior talent is a much better option.

Given some light, Graphic Equaliser simply scythed through to arrive at the last with O'Dwyer motionless. On his outside the English challenger Sharpical threatened, but a mistake finished his chance, and Graphic Equaliser sauntered clear by four lengths from Notcomplainingbut and Lady Daisy with Hard News fourth.

Cue delirium in the winners' enclosure. The Brask syndicate take their name from the first letters of their names, Brendan McConigle, Richie O'Hara, Alan Grace, Fr Shay Casey and Ken Kinahan. Four are lecturers at Athlone RTC and Fr Casey is the college chaplain.

"Every one of our students feel they own the horse and this is a great day for them," Fr Casey said. "I hope they can get down to a few academic studies now. At times my office has been like an extension of the Tote!" The owners expressed a desire to go for the Champion Hurdle, but O'Dwyer and Moore were more cautious. "That's a different ball game," said the rider. "After I won this on Redundant Pal we went for the Champion, and they go such a different pace at Cheltenham."

Moore's immediate concern is the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury on February 14th, for which the sponsors cut Graphic Equaliser from 16 to 1 to 4 to 1 clear favourite. As sure a sign as any of Moore's pre-Ladbroke confidence is that he took some of that 16 to 1 on Friday morning. But he said afterwards: "A few will have to come out of the Newbury race to get us into the handicap, but if they do it will be a tempting option. He has a long way to go to be a Champion Hurdle horse."

Which means no realistic championship hopes for those behind him, although Notcomplainingbut's trainer Paddy Mullins said: "She's coming back to her best and I will consider going for the AIG Champion Hurdle here." Lady Daisy's rider Jason Titley said: "She probably wants further, but she's very game and kept plugging away," while Mick Fitzgerald said of Sharpical: "He almost came down at the last and a stronger pace in the race would probably have helped him."

The supporting Pierse Leopardstown Chase was a much more dour affair, which suited the stamina-laden Una's Choice down to the ground. Francis Flood drove the gelding to a length defeat of the favourite Bobbyjo, but it could have been a different story had New Co not made a dreadful error at the third last.

Jason Maguire performed wonders to stay on board, but the stewards felt Maguire didn't distinguish himself once the horses passed the post. They gave him a three-day ban for unnecessarily using his stick on New Co. Maguire told them he had hit New Co because he was afraid the horse was going to collapse with exhaustion.