"Affordale Fury was the 150-1 runner-up in the three-mile Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham in March 2023, but his career since has included breaks of 438 and 241 days and Sunday's race was just his fifth chase start outside novice company. It was also his fourth outing since October, though, offering hope that his former fragility may now be behind him, and he set a decent gallop from the off despite persistently jumping to his right."
"The two most recent winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup were among the 11 runners for the Grade One Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday but neither could match the strength and resilience of a resurgent Affordale Fury, as Noel Meade's seven-year-old made his breakthrough at the highest level after an injury-plagued career to date."
"Galopin Des Champs's familiar finishing kick did not materialise, however, and after another sharp jump to his right at the last, Affordale Fury stayed on again to beat I Am Maximus, the 2024 Grand National winner, by two-and-a-half lengths with Galopin Des Champs next across the line."
Affordale Fury, a seven-year-old trained by Noel Meade, won the Grade One Savills Chase at Leopardstown. The horse endured long injury breaks of 438 and 241 days and had limited chasing experience outside novice company. He set a strong gallop despite jumping persistently to his right and produced a resilient finish. Galopin Des Champs led into the second-last but did not deliver his usual finishing kick. Affordale Fury stayed on to beat I Am Maximus by two-and-a-half lengths, with Galopin Des Champs finishing next across the line. The victory marked a breakthrough at the highest level.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]