Blazing Tempo, winner of the Galway Plate in July, proved too strong for Noble Prince, odds-on favorite in the Grade Two Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
Ruby Walsh brought Blazing Tempo (9-4) into the race just before the turn for home and denies Noble Prince by three-quarters of a length.
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| Blazing Tempo and Ruby Walsh (far side) jump the last fence alongside Noble Prince (© Healy Racing Photos) |
Willie Mullins's mare has been running regularly since her win at Galway in the summer, but her improvement shows little sign of tailing off, and she is now quoted by bookmakers for both the Ryanair Chase and the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival William Hill in March.
Mullins added: “She is holding her form and that was nice to win, given the ground. We had the choice of coming here or going to the Boylesports Hurdle but rather than take on a handicap with 20 runners, we decided to take our chance today even though the ground might not be as suitable.”
"She's an iron mare and has been on the go since Galway and been doing it in all sorts of ground. She'll get an entry for the Ryanair Chase but I'm not sure if she's good enough."
Does anyone else think that Noble Prince ran a very nice race at Fairyhouse today when finishing second to Blazing Tempo? Granted, Noble Prince was sent off at odds on, but I've always thought that he's much better suited by a bit further than 2 miles. Make William Hill your destination for betting on the Cheltenham Festival 2012.
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