Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (Group 1)

JOSEPH O’Brien has long held Scothy Champ in extremely high regard and that faith was vindicated in some style when the Mehmas colt showed his true ability to land the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes under Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Unbeaten Ballydoyle favourite Henri Matisse was sent off at odds of 5/6 when bidding to provide Aidan O’Brien with a 13th win in the race, but the late waywardness he hinted at when running around in front in the Futurity Stakes last time came to the fore again as he failed by just three quarters of a length in second, rolling around somewhat in the closing stages.

Take nothing away from the 12/1 winner, though. Representing Rectory Road Holdings Limited, Barry Fowler and Annemarie O'Brien, the impressive Leopardstown maiden winner showed plenty of class in becoming the second winner of this race for the jockey-trainer combination after Al Riffa’s victory in 2022.

“It's a special day, I'm really happy with the horse and it was a fantastic ride from Dylan,” said O’Brien.

“I’m so delighted for Barry Fowler, who is in the partnership with Sam McCauley, who has been such a good supporter of ours for the last number of years. We've had nice horses in the past but thought early on that we had a chance of having a really nice one this year. It’s so special to win a Group 1 here on this weekend.

“He had a really good debut and the form of that maiden worked out very well. We came back here in the Futurity [when third] after a layoff, so we knew whatever happened, we were going to be better after the run.

“I'm not saying we'd thought we'd win today but we thought we'd run a big race. I thought it was very impressive and Dylan felt he idled in front. I’d say he’s a top notcher. He has that bit of brilliance about him.”

William Hill introduced Scorthy Champ at 10/1 for next year’s 2000 Guineas, while Coral went much bigger at 25/1.

On what could lie ahead, O’Brien added: “I don't know whether he’ll run again this season, but if I was to guess, I'd say he will because he had the mid-season break - not by choice but due to a hold-up. I see him more as a miler than a middle-distance horse next year. I suppose the Prix Jean Lagardere or the Breeders’ Cup are options towards the end of the season."