Foreman delivers knockout blow

RACING/Leopardstown report: Thierry Doumen's blood spattered silks looked in better shape than many Cheltenham ante-post dockets after Foreman's narrow victory in yesterday's AIG Champion Hurdle.

A first French victory in the Leopardstown feature will have tickled the historians but those looking for evidence as to who will win the Champion Hurdle itself were left scratching their heads.

Foreman got a 25 to 1 quote from Ladbrokes but they weren't exactly knocked over in any rush to back him.

That was no surprise considering Doumen was all out to hold the 25 to 1 outsider Georges Girl (rated 127) by a head but some supposedly better-class home opposition were still sent home with few apparent excuses available.

The favourite Spirit Leader was beaten for third by another outsider Fota Island while Davenport Milenium couldn't maintain the pace in front and languished in fifth.

"We figured if no one else wanted to make it we would go on but you'd still have to say that was disappointing," admitted Davenport Milenium's trainer Willie Mullins. "We're going to Cheltenham, but he'll have to find a fair bit."

That was a prevalent attitude afterwards with the shock Christmas winner Golden Cross out with the washing this time. The end result at the top of an increasingly muddled Champion Hurdle market was that the current holder, Rooster Booster, safe at home in his box, appears even more secure in his repeat bid.

None of that mattered to Doumen, however, who was winning his first Grade One prize as a trainer with the only horse he trains for JP McManus.

"He is the only one . . . as yet!" grinned the young Frenchman who has had to endure so much sniping in his riding career. Yet again, however, on the big stage he pulled out a fine effort, despite suffering a nosebleed in the race, to take over from Fota Island at the last and then hold on from the Fran Flood ridden runner-up.

"I was confident he could get a Grade One if he got the right day and the right race. He is in the Tote Gold Trophy but I presume he will go to Cheltenham," said Doumen who won last season's Heineken Gold Cup on First Gold for his father, Francois.

Francis Flood is seriously considering the Tote Gold Trophy for Georges Girl despite her being out of the handicap proper.

"She's a long way out of the weights but she'll never be rated like this again," he said. "Another few strides and she would have worn yer man down."

Yesterday's 8,929 crowd at Leopardstown was down 823 on last year but the bookmaker turnover was still up €63,373 to €1,768,801. The Tote was also up almost €64,000 to €398,390.