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Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)

A RACE billed as an epic match-up between two stellar talents instead turned into the perfect swan song for the metronomic Colreevy who ended her career in a blaze of glory with a pillar-to-post tour de force.

Already a Grade 1 winner this season and successful in the inaugural Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham, Colreevy lined up defending an unbeaten four-race record over fences.

Her credentials spoke for themselves, but it said much about the anticipated match-up between Monkfish and Envoi Allen that the Mrs Niall Flynn-owned daughter of Flemensfirth was allowed to go off at 7/1.

That pair came here off contrasting visits to Cheltenham with Monkfish having won the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase whereas Envoi Allen lost his unbeaten record with that third-fence fall in the Marsh. The pair endured differing fortunes here too with a lacklustre Envoi Allen pulling up before the second last and Monkfish having to settle for second at the end of a hugely productive first season over fences which yielded three Grade 1 triumphs.

However, this should not detract from a marvellous effort from the teak-tough Colreevy who bounced out of an exacting test at Cheltenham with a brave display, which followed on from a recent covering by Walk In The Park.

The winner did take a little time to warm to her task here but soon settled into a lovely rhythm which she then maintained to the line.

As the last four fences loomed it was clear that Envoi Allen was toiling badly and Monkfish clouted the third last which left Colreevy firmly in charge.

The odds-on favourite couldn’t close in any further on his stablemate from before the last and even a bad blunder there by Colreevy wasn’t enough to deprive this mare of a famous success. She finished with eight lengths to spare.

“She’s special showed how good and tough she was at Cheltenham. Today she took time to warm up but Danny got her on an even keel and she put it up to others and won well. She ran right up to form and surpassed what she did at Cheltenham whereas I don’t think Monkfish gave his true running,” declared Mullins.

“She had a hard race at Cheltenham but has come back and produced it again. She’s out of the top drawer, and was worried about the ground but they have done a brilliant job on the ground here. I’d imagine the owners are really looking forward to getting her home and breeding from her and hopefully we can look forward to her foals coming along,” added the trainer.

This race supplied Danny Mullins with his first Grade 1 success back in 2013 and after another big Festival triumph, he reflected: “She’s a tough mare. She was possibly a sticky early on but warmed into it and ran out a nice winner of a hot race. I said to Willie beforehand that I wanted to bounce out and flow and he said just keep her travelling and jumping away.”

Envoi Allen was reported to be lame post-race and to have hung badly left throughout.

Highlight of the day

Unquestionably Chacun Pour Soi who bounced back from that unexpected defeat at Cheltenham with an outstanding display against a quality field.