Bog Warrior impresses with 31-length romp

TONY MARTIN’S career has included winners at the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot. The trainer has struck fear into bookmaker hearts for years in races as diverse as the English Cambridgeshire and the Irish Grand National. But in Bog Warrior, Martin believes he is dealing with something else again.

After the Michael O’Leary-owned star routed his Drinmore Chase opposition by 31 lengths yesterday, Martin described his first Grade One winner as the best he has handled. And the thrill of dealing with such a class act was writ large across his face, possibly even more than after orchestrating a successful handicap gamble.

“I’ve always known he was going to be special if we could keep him right,” said Martin. “A performance like that is what you work for and you live for.”

Davy Russell had the pick of the Gigginstown Stud trio in the race but knew his fate early as the favourite First Lieutenant bled before the halfway stage and was eventually pulled up.

Ruby Walsh in contrast never had a moment’s worry on Bog Warrior who dominated for the last half of the race and earned 10 to 1 quotes for Cheltenham’s RSA Chase in March. “He’s a good horse,” Walsh confirmed. “It’s a pity I won’t be riding him the next day!”

Martin believes Bog Warrior would need ground at least on the soft side of yielding for Cheltenham to enter his thoughts. But if the festival isn’t automatically on the horse’s agenda, then future Grade One races definitely are.

“Down the road, he could be a horse for races like the Lexus and the Hennessy,” he said.

Walsh and Willie Mullins have become accustomed to top-flight victories over the years. But it was noticeable how impressed both were by the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle success of Sous Les Cieux. “He exceeded what I thought he would do. He had to it the hard way, taking it up a good way out. I don’t think I’ve another novice like him,” Mullins said and post-race quotes of 10 to 1 for the Supreme and the Neptune at Cheltenham had to be rooted out quickly by punters.

Dermot Weld, trainer of the runner-up Galileo’s Choice, had no doubts about the quality of the race, describing it as “outstanding” and eagerly anticipating the opportunity to run his horse on better ground in the spring.

“I was delighted with the way he jumped and especially the way he kept at it. I think it was an outstanding novice,” he said.

Walsh reported: “We were a bit worried coming back down in trip that he wouldn’t have the gears. But he ground it out well and he’s won going away. I’d say he wants to go a bit further. He’s a horse with a big future.”

Triumph Hurdle quotes of 33 to 1 were floating around Sam Bass after Noel Meade’s three-year-old held off His Excellency in the Grade Three Juvenile Hurdle. The Grade Two event at Leopardstown over Christmas is next on his agenda.

“I had been worried about the ground but he worked on soft the other day and he was great,” said Meade. “He stayed at it very well.”

Smoking Aces got the better of a sustained duel with Portrait King at the end of the long-distance handicap chase to reward favourite backers while they were also on the mark in the mares chase with Cloughmile who was too strong for Our Victoria.