Now Is The Hour leads Cromwell treble at Gowran Park
Thyestes Chase glory for Danestown trainer
After going three weeks without a winner Gavin Cromwell landed the biggest one of the week when Now IS The Hour won the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park.
And just like a Dublin Bus, after waiting so long for one winner the Danestown trainer landed three on the card at the Kilkenny track.
The 100,00 Grade 3 Thyestes produced a finish full of drama with 8/1 shot Now Is The Hour getting up on the line to land the spoils.
The Willie Mullins-trained Spanish Harlem cut out most of the running in the three-mile-one contest and looked set to collect running to the last only to unship his rider, Sean Cleary-Farrell.
Partnered by Mark Walsh, Better Times Ahead then took the lead. He was slightly hampered on the run-in by the loose horse, and was chased down late on by Now Is The Hour.
Eoin Staples mount had looked under pressure when making a mistake two from home but rallied gamely in the closing stages, finding a finishing kick to lead at the death for a head victory.
"This is unbelievable stuff and I wasn't sure if he had won, as it was close. Eoin was very good on him and he is great value for his 5lb claim. It is a fantastic race to win and what a difference a day can make!" said Cromwell.
"You couldn't have said he was beaten when falling at the second-last at Cheltenham last March and he was a maiden coming here, so it was a nice way to break his maiden tag.
"The race is a big part of the calendar with a huge history and while I had finished second it last year, it is great to have your name on the cup.
"It is the first time he has got his ground since he won a Grade 2 hurdle race at Haydock. He again qualifies for the National Hunt Chase so will go straight there, despite having a penalty for winning this.
"If he doesn't do anything else, he has been fantastic for us and we have been on the cold list for a while, so this is well appreciated.
"Eoin is good value for his claim, is improving all the time and is a nice fella."
Staples told RTE:- “It’s unbelievable. I grew up looking at this race, I'm only from about an hour down the road in Wexford. It’s a big thing in the south-east.
“To get an opportunity to even ride in it is huge, but to go and win it is unbelievable.
“I got a grand start, the main thing was to get him into a rhythm and it took a while. It wasn’t until about a mile that I was happy.
“I tracked wide everywhere, I tracked Keith (Donoghue on Yeah Man everywhere, and once I got into a rhythm he was dynamite.
“Down over the last three, the strides weren’t coming for me and I started to panic a bit, but he’s as tough as nails and he ground it out well. He really put down his head for me.
“A big thanks to Gavin and his owners for giving me an opportunity. He’s been supporting me well all year and to get a big one for him, I’m delighted to be able to pay back a small bit.
“It’s a big day, I know loads of people here and to get a winner in front of them is magic.
“My family aren’t here but they are all watching on. My brother is awake over in Australia, along with his girlfriend. They are watching on and I hope they are proud.”
Paddy Power made the winner 33/1 (from 66/1) for the Grand National.
Cromwell broke his long wait for a winner in the first race when Champagne Jury justified even money favouritism to land the maiden Hurdle under Dunshaughlin jockey Keith Donoghue.
Staples landed the first of his double for Cromwell in the second race when The Lovely Man scored at 11/2 in a 2m7f Handicap Hurdle.