Castlegrace Paddy and Paul Townend pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Castlegrace Paddy put in an impressive performance to take the feature at Cork this afternoon, the Grade 2 Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase, completing a treble on the card for Paul Townend.
All eyes were on the 4/7 favourite Great Field but he only got as far as second, crashing out there under Jody McGarvey.
Successful on his first two starts over fences, the Pat Fahy trained victor was no match for Footpad when tried at the highest level at the Punchestown Festival in April.
Backed from 8s into 13/2 this afternoon, the son of Flemensfirth raced mainly in second under Townend.
He closed on the front-running Special Tiara before four out and soon got to the front, stretching clear after the second last, going on to score easily by sixteen lengths. Doctor Phoenix (9/1) took second under Mark Enright for Gordon Elliott, while Special Tiara was another four and a half lengths back in third, with Bryan Cooper aboard this 8/1 chance for Henry de Bromhead.
Fahy, who trains the winner for Clipper Logistics Group Ltd, said afterwards: "It was a pity Andrew Lynch couldn't ride him as he'd all the schooling down with him but he got injured. I was delighted to get Paul to fill in.
"He wasn't jumping fluently in Punchestown and ran a bit flat but he's summered fierce well and was in great shape coming here. He's just a different horse this year. He'd a few problems last year but is all there now and has had no injuries.
"He was working out of this world and if we didn't win here we were going to struggle this year.
"He'll probably go to Leopardstown now at Christmas and if he performs well hopefully he can go on to Cheltenham in March.
"After that he suffers from allergies and that may have been his problem in Punchestown. When the growth starts, the pollen starts so we'll aim to have him at his peak in March.
"Paul said he would be better going left-handed. He handled that ground well but he seems to be versatile enough.
"Today Great Field came down and we were there to pick up the spoils. If he stayed up it would have been some race but you have to get you’re bit of luck as well."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
