Solomn Grundy got up in the dying strides to land a dramatic renewal of the Frank & Teresa O’Reilly Memorial Hunters Chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday afternoon.
Derek O’Connor aboard Stand Up And Fight and the Ben Harvey-ridden On The Sod matched strides as they raced clear of the field with a full circuit to race and that meant that very few of the 11 runners ever got to land a challenging blow.
Leaving the back straight with six fences to jump the pair had emerged 15 lengths clear of their rivals and as the home straight loomed the favourite Solomn Grundy, former Down Royal Hunter Chase winner Dylrow and recent Downpatrick victor Big Leg Up began to try and close the deficit before the third-last fence intervened.
It was at this point that one of those pace-setters On The Sod exited having got in too close to the fence, with Sizing Rome and From Eden also departed whilst in behind.
Having been left close to ten lengths clear with two fences to jump, Stand Up And Fight, who had won around the inside course at the Co. Meath venue back in November, began to look like something of a sitting target as he idled and steadied notably at the penultimate fence before Solomn Grundy began to close at a rapid rate inside the final 100 yards.
Jamie Scallan’s mount snatched victory on the line to win by a neck, cruelly denying Stand Up And Fight with Jury Duty a further 17 lengths back in third.
Having followed up his recent Tetretema Cup victory at Gowran, this latest success was a fourth win of the season for Sean Doyle’s charge who connections indicated is unlikely to try and follow up quickly, as he is also declared for the Jack Tyner Memorial at Cork on Monday, with connections indicating that he may instead run at the Punchestown Festival providing the ground does not get too quick.
13:45 Tigh na Síog
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) April 3, 2021
1. Solomn Grundy 9/4
2. Stand up and Fight 16/5
3. Jury Duty 5/2@Fairyhouse @Rasai_BEO @HRIRacing #Fairyhouse #Horseracing pic.twitter.com/MujJ8qIU8A
