Super Sam Ewing takes Leopardstown chance in style

Not many jockeys will ride a Grade One winner and win one of the most valuable races on the calendar on outsider Favori De Champdou and leave Leopardstown wondering what might have been, but that was the case for Sam Ewing on Saturday.

On another day dominated by Gordon Elliott, Ewing won on his Hardy Stuff (20-1) in the three-year-old maiden hurdle, partnered Solness to victory in the feature Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase and then the surprise winner of the Paddy Power Chase.

However, it could have been even better had Joseph O’Brien’s Talk The Talk not fallen at the last in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle, leaving the race at the mercy of Elliott’s Skylight Hustle with the Cullentra trainer saddling four winners on the card.

Favori De Champdou made just about all but was headed approaching the last, only to battle back gamely and hold off stablemate Search For Glory.

“I’m buzzing, to win one of the biggest handicaps at Leopardstown and a Grade One, it almost couldn’t be better,” said Ewing.

“Talk The Talk actually jumped the last very well and is a very exciting prospect, I was confident I’d have won.”

Elliott has well and truly been the man to follow in recent weeks and said of Favori De Champdou: “I can’t believe the way things are going. Sam was good on him and got it easy in front and James (Smith) was good on the second horse, so I’m delighted,” said Elliott.

“Maybe the cross-country the last day helped to sweeten him up a bit. It’s great prize-money and they are the races you want to win.

“Jack (Kennedy) is first jockey, but Sam, Danny (Gilligan) and all the boys are there at home. They have to wait their turn but it just goes to show when you keep your head down and keep working you get your chances.”

Hardy Stuff (20-1) came from the clouds to ensure Ole Ole finished second for a third successive race, after which Elliott said: “We fancied him in one of those academy hurdles early on and he ran out at the first bend.

“He could be one for the Fred Winter at Cheltenham.”

Elliott and Kennedy, who were on the mark with Skylight Hustle, then won the National Maternity Hospital Foundation Handicap Hurdle with Bowensonfire (3-1 favourite).

“Jack is riding out of his skin and deserves every bit of luck he is getting. He’s had more knocks than most but he’s coming back stronger and stronger,” said Elliott.

“The ride he gave that horse was unbelievable. I was slagging him coming in that it took him enough goes to figure out how to ride him! He’s a tricky horse but he said he got bumped at the first and ended up a bit wide and it may have suited.”

When asked about leading the trainers’ championship, he said: “I know I have no chance! There was a time I used to go to bed every night thinking about it, but I don’t anymore.

“I’m lucky and unlucky to be training at the same time as a man called Willie Mullins. I’m just enjoying it and worrying about my own horses and myself rather than worrying about anyone else and I think it’s working.”

Kargese got off the mark over fences at the second attempt in the Paddy Power From The Horses Mouth Podcast Beginners Chase but the race was marred by the fatal fall of James’s Gate.

Martin Brassil’s James’s Gate was returning after a year off the track and was the only serious rival to Willie Mullins’ County Hurdle winner when falling at the second-last.

That left Kargese (10-11 favourite) to come home alone.

“She was a lot sharper today, jumped better and finished out her race. I think there is more improvement in her, so looking forward to the rest of the season,” said Mullins.

“Jumping two more fences would be a help to her.”