The trainer had been looking for an excuse not to run, the jockey had never clapped eyes on Leopardstown before, but between them Paul Nicholls and Joe Tizzard combined to win yesterday's £117,000 Paddy Power Chase with Calling Wild.
The second most valuable steeplechase in Ireland was rich, if unexpected, compensation for the pair, who had witnessed first hand the dire effort of their stable star See More Business in Saturday's King George VI Chase.
"This certainly makes up for that," said a delighted if slightly bemused Nicholls, the first English trainer to land the Paddy Power. Somerset-based Nicholls' bemusement stemmed from Calling Wild's previous win at Wincanton.
"The horse coughed for a fortnight after that and I was never fully happy with him. This race had been the plan, but I was almost looking for an excuse not to run. We checked his blood, we had him scoped and there was nothing wrong but even last night I was a bit windy about him," said Nicholls.
The only wind Calling Wild's opposition felt, however was, his slipstream. The 8 to 1 third favourite dominated the contest along with the other English raider, Tidebrook, down the back and soon had the home team fully stretched. How stretched became apparent when Tidebrook cracked before the third last and the dourly staying veteran Wylde Hide became the only worthwhile pursuer
The old boy tried hard, but with Tizzard firing all guns on Calling Wild, he was never going to fully threaten and Calling Wild passed the post six lengths clear, with Tizzard saluting the crowd.
It was a momentous occasion for 19-year-old Tizzard, who took over the much-coveted stable job from Timmy Murphy at the start of the season.
"Joe rode him exceptionally well. I told him to be in touch, lead with a circuit to go and then attack," said Nicholls, who ruled out a tilt at the 1999 Aintree Grand National. "He is still a bit careful at his fences and there is plenty of time for that."
It was a winning first ride in Ireland for a delighted Tizzard. who said: "This horse just keeps galloping and galloping. There wasn't a lot left at the finish, but bar a mistake at the second last, I had no worries." The apparently well handicapped favourite, Bob Treacy, was never travelling and was pulled up before the last. "He slipped at a few of the fences and lost his bottle," said rider Paul Carberry.
Without Calling Wild, yesterday would have turned into a benefit for Wylde Hide's owner JP McManus. The green and gold colours were carried to four victories. All four winners, whose combined odds totalled just over 80 to 1, were trained by Christy Roche, who was recording a first four-timer as a trainer. Joe Mac was perhaps the most significant winner, as his length and a half edging out of Colonel Yeager in the Future Champions Novices Hurdle signalled the maturing of two significant novice talents. Both horses quickened before the straight and then again on the run to the last. Both also drifted around, but Joe Mac possessed just the better acceleration.
"He's a lovely horse and I may have been a little cheeky in not giving him a lot of work before this. He was very tired at the finish and we haven't seen the best of him yet," said Roche. Colonel Yeager could meet the winner again in Cheltenham's Supreme Novices Hurdle. "He's still a baby and we don't want to put him over an extra distance yet," said his trainer, Martin Lynch. Sean Grahams now go 7 to 1 and 10 to 1 respectively the two horses for Cheltenham.
The bookmakers were also in action after Afarad's cantering success in the opener, making him as low as 14 to 1 for the Triumph Hurdle. Powers go 20 to 1, a quote that prompted McManus to say: "I don't think he'll get any bigger than that!"
The nicely backed 10 to 1 shot Shannon Gale returned from a two-year layoff to make all for an easy win in the three-mile hurdle. "He's had all sorts of problems. His wind was wrong, his legs aren't great and I'm not looking forward to seeing him in the morning. I just hope he stays sound," said Roche, who also landed the bumper with the 1 to 2 favourite Youlneverwalkalone.
Limerick's entire Christmas four-day fixture had to be abandoned due to waterlogging.
Saturday's fixture was called off after a morning inspection, and with no prospect of improved weather, officials decided to abandon the whole four days. A mini hurricane caused the cancellation of the last four races at Down Royal on Saturday. Shortly after the second race, which was run in freak weather conditions - 100 mph gales and almost total darkness -the stewards met and debated with trainers Michael Cunningham, Tommy Carberry and Dessie Hughes as to whether the meeting should continue.
Shortly afterwards, the stewards announced that in the interest of safety the rest of the meeting would be cancelled.
