Native Upmanship propelled himself to the top of the SunAlliance Chase market with a gruelling defeat of market hotpots Alexander Banquet and Quinze in yesterday's Denny Gold Medal Novice Chase.
Even more of a surprise was that the Arthur Moore-trained winner's greatest danger on the run-in was Slaney Native, who looked to be travelling best of all on the run to the last and forced Conor O'Dwyer to pull out all the stops on Native Upmanship.
Quinze and Alexander Banquet struggled home 15 and 20 lengths behind respectively, but, while there were excuses for both, the Paddy Power organisation didn't hesitate to make Native Upmanship, unbeaten in his two chase starts, their 6 to 1 SunAlliance favourite.
Moore, who has never made any secret of his regard for his winner, admitted: "Cheltenham is always the hope and he looks more of a SunAlliance than an Arkle horse. He proved he stays when he won the Stanley Cooker Hurdle at Punchestown and his technique looks better over fences. He doesn't jump over quick but he is accurate. They went a true pace there and it was a true test."
It certainly was a test. Go Roger Go took over from the early leader Irregular Planting before surrendering the lead himself to Quinze at the fifth last. It always looked a struggle for the favourite and confirmed stayer Alexander Banquet, but he too got into contention at the third last.
Native Upmanship had raced lazily in the early stages and looked to have a lot to do at that stage as all eyes focused on the surprise package Slaney Native, who looked all over the winner on the turn in. Paul Moloney's mount ran his race out, but when O'Dwyer finally asked Native Upmanship for everything, his hurdles class and speed proved just too much.
"He is very relaxed and went to sleep with Conor who had to give him a few cracks," Moore added, "but he's a good horse who goes on any ground. I suppose the PJ Moriarty at the Hennessy meeting is an obvious next race." The Moriarty is also the target for Alexander Banquet who disappointed his trainer, Willie Mullins. "Allowing for everything, that is not his form," said Mullins. Jockey Barry Geraghty added: "The trip was a bit sharp and the pace just found him out."
Slaney Native's trainer, Jessica Harrington, was "absolutely thrilled" with her horse's run and plans one run before a tilt at Cheltenham. Quinze's rider, Paul Carberry, reported: "The ground just found him out. He couldn't jump on it as well as he can."
Calladine's winning hurdling debut in the Juvenile Hurdle also caught the bookmaker's eye with Powers making him a 25 to 1 chance for the Triumph Hurdle. But it was the runner-up, Yeoman's Point, who seemed to focus their attention more and he was cut from 14 to 1 to 12 to 1.
The pair were either side of Fable at the last, but it was Calladine who found more reserves to provide north Co Dublin trainer Steve Mahon and jockey Eddie Callaghan with a famous success.
"He is a valuable winner at the right time," said Mahon, who added: "This horse will improve and is very, very tough."
Callaghan was afterwards severely cautioned by the stewards after he raced Calladine up the inner of Fable. The stewards decided he had caused interference but were satisfied he had not improved his position as a result.
On a poor day for punters, John Magical was the only favourite to oblige, but there was no harder kick in the teeth than the one 20 to 1 outsider Florida Light gave in the handicap chase when he just out-pointed Nibalda. Florida Light paid over 66 to 1 on the Tote and provoked a jackpot carryover to today.
Willie Mullins warmed up for a five-strong challenge in today's Paddy Power Chase with a double courtesy of Galeogan and Tryphaena, but the favourite backers were also out of luck in the bumper as Colonel Braxton kicked clear of the favourite Risk Accessor on the turn and couldn't be reeled in.
