Sublimity shows he's still a force to be reckoned with

RACING/LEOPARDSTOWN REPORT: THE OMENS might be against Sublimity regaining his Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham in March but confounding the norm has become second nature to the 2007 title holder who landed a thrilling victory in yesterday's Leopardstown feature.

When Sublimity won that famous Champion Hurdle he came out of left-field for many, a low-key preparation timed to the minute by his then trainer John Carr. But yesterday's success in the Leopardstown Golf Centre December Festival Hurdle was almost as unlikely as he battled off the 20 to 1 outsider Won In The Dark by half a length to secure a very first success for his new trainer Robbie Hennessy.

North Co Dublin-based Hennessy is a son of Sublimity's owner, Bill Hennessy, and only took out a licence just before the horse's run at Wetherby last month when runner-up in the Fighting Fifth. This time though there was no missing out on a Grade One bullseye.

"I'm still shaking but Philip (Carberry) was so cool and gave him a great ride," grinned Hennessy who pointed to the improved ground conditions as being vital to Sublimity's success. "He has so much class and so many gears on good ground," he said.

"People have knocked him and his Champion Hurdle but he beat two other winners that day and he has proved he still has the class. He must have a great chance again."

Comedy Of Errors (1973-75) is the only horse ever to regain the Champion Hurdle crown and despite yesterday's confidence boost, the bookmakers feel that that is one statistic which will remain intact.

Ladbrokes reacted by making Binocular an even-money favourite with Sublimity now heading those at 10 to 1 bar.

The newly titled Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle, formerly the AIG, at the end of January could be a final opportunity for Sublimity to rattle such confidence. It is also a likely next target for Brave Inca who finished third yesterday. "At the moment we will go there," said his trainer Colm Murphy. "Ruby (Walsh) said he should have gone quicker. But the winner was good."

The Toshiba is also a possible for Won In The Dark who put in a career-best effort yesterday and whose trainer Sabrina Harty reported: "He has run unbelievably well and is so much better on better ground. We want to get him to Cheltenham as fresh as possible and the quicker the ground there the better." However, there is no such straight-forward outlook for the Sizing Europe team.

Yesterday's 15 to 8 favourite was allowed take his chance despite a foot problem the day before and travelled like the winner until coming under pressure on the turn-in.

Sizing Europe then dropped tamely away to finish only fifth.

"He travelled well to two out and I thought we were the winner. It's a bit disappointing," conceded jockey Andrew McNamara.

Trainer Henry De Bromhead admitted his own disappointment and he faces a tough task trying to figure out what happened.

"I don't know what is wrong. The foot would be a lovely excuse - if it is that. But I'm disappointed. He passed Brave Inca and then was left standing.

"He didn't look a Champion Hurdle horse there and those involved with Binocular won't be too worried. The one thing I do know is that he wants a flat-out pace from the start and they didn't do that today. We will take him home and see," De Bromhead said.

The third former Champion Hurdle winner in the race, Hardy Eustace, faded to finish last. But with three years in hand of his old rival, Sublimity still looks capable of keeping everyone on their toes.

Leopardstown Golf Centre December Festival Hurdle:

How they finished

1 Sublimity 8, 11-10

P A Carberry 3-1

2 Won In The Dark 4 , 11-7

S J Hassett 20-1

3 Brave Inca 10, 11-10

R Walsh 9-2