AS the horses were on their way down to the start for the opening race at Fairyhouse yesterday, cars were still jammed bumper to bumper from the end of the dual carriageway all the way to the main gates of the racecourse. The eagerly-awaited clash between Danoli and Dorans Pride in the Chiquita Drinmore Novice Chase was, not unexpectedly, proving a huge attraction.
Unfortunately Danoli fell at the third fence which, as far as many of his disappointed admirers may have been concerned, was effectively the end of the race. But it turned out to be a memorable event.
Dorans Pride and the English challenger, Sec More Business, took each other on from an early stage and there was little to choose between the duo as they crossed fence after fence virtually as one.
If anything, Dorans Pride jumped that little bit better than his rival, and his supporters gave full vent to their feelings as the Tony McCoy-partnered See More Business was first to come under pressure on facing up to the last.
Dorans Pride and Richard Dunwoody landed marginally ahead and, although idling a little on the approach and for a few strides after landing, the Irish chaser stayed on bravely to get the better of his gallant rival by a length. It was a race to savour.
Danoli, who hit the take-off board, will be back in business. He never saw a fence before he won his first chase at Clonmel, and one hopes that silly blunder will have taught him a lesson.
None the worse for his fall he will go to Leopardstown with the Dennys Gold Medal Chase as his objective. He has never been on the floor in his life and was prepared for some schooling after racing.
Trainer Michael Hourigan had hoped to run Dorans Pride in the Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown, but having won more than the stipulated amount of money, is not now qualified. "I'll find a novice chase for him instead at Leopardstown rather than Limerick," said the trainer.
Cheltenham's Sun Alliance Chase would appear to be the natural target for him, but owner Tom Doran does not favour this feature which in the past has seen the downfall of many a good chaser.
"If he doesn't go for the Gold Cup, he might run in the Stayers Hurdle, said Hourigan. "Anyway, he has now won his three chases and this time last year his life was despaired of."
Paul Nicholls, trainer of See More Business, said he would have no hesitation in taking on Dorans Pride again. He added that his charge would have been better suited to softer ground. "They are two serious horses," he added.
It looks as if we have an exciting young novice in Istabraq, who not only won the competitive Grade one Royal Bond Novice Hurdle just as he liked, but relegated his lucky Punchestown conqueror Noble Thyne to third place, nearly 20 lengths adrift.
John McManus's winner and Noble Thyne disputed the running at a good clip until Charlie Swan gave his mount the go ahead before rounding for home. Clear into the straight, Istabraq bounded over the second last, and while a little novicey at the final flight, had the race in safe keeping as Palette gave chase.
"He's real good and still only a baby," said trainer Aidan O'Brien, who will keep the former John Gosden-trained Istabrag to novice hurdling, with Leopardstown's valuable Deloitte La Touche Hurdle as his next objective.
Said McManus: "I wouldn't own him only for John Durkan, who recommended him to me. He would have gone into training with John, but he became very ill and is now in New York. I hope this win will he a tonic for him."
Large Action outclassed his rivals to win the Avonmore Hatton's Grace Hurdle with ease from Cockney Lad and Theatreworld. After a preliminary outing in Cheltenham's Bula Hurdle, the winner will probably have another tilt at the Champion Hurdle, in which he has already been placed twice, rather than contest the Stayers' Hurdle.
Nowadays, he appears to need a distance, but next year's Champion Hurdle looks weak and Large Action has been inserted at 7 to 1 third favourite behind Alderbrook and the current champion, Collier Bay.Saturday's Newcastle winner, Space Trucker, is a 14 to 1 chance.
Christy Roche was quick to get off the mark in his new role as trainer, saddling Ask The Butler to win the Ashbourne Maiden Hurdle only a week after he had received his licence. The veteran jockey, who was champion on six occasions, intends to keep riding, at least for next season. But his training interests will keep him busy just for the winter and spring, with 12 jumpers and 12 young stores to hand.
Ask The Butler's jumping had not been up to scratch, but he has been intensively schooled and perhaps unexpectedly, the ground was to his liking.
Any punter brave enough to have taken the winner with the field in a forecast would have collected £1,254 for a £1 stake.