Fakir D'oudairies and JJ Slevin took full advantage after the final-fence error from Haut En Couleurs who looked set to take the Thurles Grade Two prize; earlier on the card, Allegorie De Vassy survived a blunder to enhance her Festival credentials
Sunday 22 January 2023 14:21, UK
Fakir D'oudairies seized the opportunity to go one better than last season and claim an incident-packed renewal of Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles.
Joseph O'Brien's gelding finished second behind Allaho last term and was the 7-4 favourite on his return to the track under JJ Slevin.
In the Grade Two he travelled prominently but tailed the strong-finishing Haut En Couleurs and French Dynamite turning into the home straight.
The former looked to have the race under control - but a final-flight fall ended his hopes while French Dynamite made a serious mistake behind him.
Fakir D'oudairies then swept through to take up the lead and crossed the line six lengths ahead. Chacun Pour Soi had moved with promise for a long way, before dropping away quite tamely.
"He got a little lost around the turn and was galloping down the straight but obviously the horse in front fell, although we were coming for a challenge anyway," O'Brien said.
"I was very pleased with the performance and pleased with how he jumped and it sets him up nicely for the spring. He was giving away weight and I feel as he is getting older, it is taking a bit more work to get him there.
"He is a young horse and over his career has been fantastic and always runs his race. He tries and is a great horse to have in the yard. Today's race was a good one, they went a good gallop and it was a deep field so I'm very pleased.
"He will potentially go back to Ascot for the Grade One he won last year (Ascot Chase) and then we'll look at the Ryanair Chase and Aintree. I suppose all those options will be left open."
Allegorie De Vassy's winning streak continued as she cantered to victory in the Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase at Thurles.
The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old has been victorious in three previous starts for the Clossuton handler, most recently taking the Grade Two Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase at Limerick by 19 lengths.
At the same level at Thurles she was the 1-8 favourite to oblige again - but gave onlookers a fright when pausing to take a look at the first fence and nearly unseating Paul Townend.
That was the only moment of doubt, however, as the bay then strolled home without seeing another rival to prevail by 19 lengths once again.
