Etoile takes Novice Chase
Accordion Etoile got the better of Justified to take the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase at Punchestown this afternoon.
Paul Nolan’s runner made relentless progress in the hands of John Cullen down the back straight and joined the leader at the second last.
A mistake at the final fence put paid to any chance Justified had and Accordion Etoile (9-4) went on to beat the 13-8 favourite by two and a half lengths. In Compliance was third.
Laoch Dubh set a furious early pace followed by Justified who had taken it up by halfway.
In Compliance made his bid three out but Accordion Etoile had the leaders in his sights.
McCoy was hard at work on Justified turning for home and as hard as Eamonn Sheehy’s runner fought, he could not hold Accordion Etoile.
Nolan said of the winner: ``The wheels are back on the bike and he's got a Grade One under his belt now.
“We were thinking we might not have made the right decision to send him over fences but he’s proven himself today and you have to consider if we had kept him over hurdles what would he have won.
“The Champion Chase is the plan and hopefully he will get his good ground there (at Cheltenham).
“He travelled super and jumped so quickly.
“I said to John the number one priority was to get round and it all came down to the last and we just got away quicker.
“He’s schooled over hurdles since Aintree and we’ve always thought he was a natural jumper.”
Sheehy was satisfied with Justified’s performance but conceded that his charge is probably in need of a step up in trip.
“The ground was too fast and Tony said he was always pushing along,” said Sheehy.
“He probably does want softer ground and will probably want a trip on this faster surface.
“We will step him up in distance next season as he seems to stay well.
“I don’t know if the mistake at the last cost him the race, Tony didn’t think so, but he was coming back at him towards the line.”
Accordion Etoile’s price was cut for the Queen Mother Champion Chase with VC Bet going 14-1 from 20-1 and William Hill 16-1 from 25-1.
Asian Maze ran her rivals ragged to land a convincing win in the Whitewater Champion Stayers' Hurdle.
Ruby Walsh set a sensible pace on the Thomas Mullins-trained mare and the 8-13 shot was not hard pressed to follow up her success in the Aintree Hurdle earlier this month.
Fire Dragon, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, was the only one to put up any kind of challenge but he was well held at the last and was pipped for second spot close home by 100-1 chance Kerryhead Windfarm.
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