Silver strikes gold in Boylesports.com Champion Chase
Golden Silver defied worries about the quicker ground to run out an impressive winner of the Boylesports.com Champion Chase.
Merely an also-ran in the Queen Mother at Cheltenham, he had since put up a fine weight-carrying performance to win a handicap under a welter burden in the mud at Fairyhouse.
Ridden by his usual partner Paul Townend, he was always going well in behind the pace-setting Sizing Europe and stablemate Scotsirish.
Arkle winner Sizing Europe still held an advantage at the second-last but not for the first time got in a bit tight and relinquished his advantage.
Forpadydeplasterer hit the front momentarily but Golden Silver (12-1) went past with ease to win by two and a half lengths leaving Tom Cooper’s stable star second again with Sizing Europe third and Kalahari King fourth.
There was drama at the start when Paul Nicholls’ Twist Magic refused to jump off under Tony McCoy.
Barry Geraghty said of the runner-up: "He struggled through the race a little bit, the ground is on the dead side, it's well watered and rightly so.
“I’d say it was as much to do with the ground as that he had to go to Aintree rather than come straight here because the ground could have been soft.
“He ran a cracker, he’s a genuine horse, but on the day the ground just beat him.
“I said to the lads when I came in, I wouldn’t question his attitude one bit, he’s as game as a lion but he just didn’t have it today.”
Henry de Bromhead said of Sizing Europe: "Even during the race I was gutted as I could see there was no pace which is amazing for a two-mile championship race.
“We had to do all the donkey work and it just didn’t happen for him today.
“We’ve had an amazing season and we’ll have a sit down and plan what to do next year.”
Townend added of the winner: “He has huge ability and he keeps a little bit for himself but on his day he is very good.
“I got into a nice rhythm today and let him relax, I probably forced him a bit too much at Cheltenham and never got happy but he jumped super today.
“He is a lovely horse to ride and he jumped super. He came there going well and stuck at it.
“With Ruby (Walsh) being out injured I am very grateful for the opportunities that Willie has given me.”
Mullins added: “He has just kept improving and I couldn’t believe how well Paul was going.
“We thought that the ground would be too good for him and that he only had class on soft, but that obviously isn’t the case.”
