Now Is The Hour lunged late to claim a dramatic last-gasp victory in the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park.
A fiercely-competitive field of 18 runners went to post for the latest renewal of the prestigious handicap and while the Willie Mullins-trained 7-2 favourite Captain Cody was an early casualty, the champion trainer still looked set to strike Thyestes gold for a record-extending 11th time, as Spanish Harlem and 7lb claimer Sean Cleary-Farrell held sway on the approach to the final fence.
However, the race quickly changed complexion, with the eight-year-old unseating his rider and seemingly handing the race the hat-trick-seeking Better Times Ahead, only for Eoin Staples to conjure a late charge out of Now Is The Hour to join him close to the line.
Following a brief but tense wait, the judge confirmed Now Is The Hour (8-1) had got up by a head, completing a treble on the card for Gold Cup-winning trainer Gavin Cromwell, who had not saddled a winner with his previous 40 runners.
He said: “This is unbelievable stuff and I wasn’t sure if he had won, as it was close. Eoin was very good on him and is great value for his 5lb claim. It is a fantastic race to win and what a difference a day can make!
“It is the first time he has got his ground since he won a Grade Two hurdle race at Haydock.
“The race is a big part of the calendar with a huge history and while I had finished second in this race last year, it is great to have your name on the cup.”
Nick Rockett landed last year’s Thyestes Chase before going on to win the Randox Grand National at Aintree for Willie and Patrick Mullins, a double also achieved by Hedgehunter (2005) and Numbersixvalverde (2006).
Now Is The Hour was cut to 20-1 from 33-1 for the world’s most famous steeplechase by Coral, but Cromwell is first aiming to settle some unfinished business at the Cheltenham Festival, with his charge having fallen two from home when still in contention for last season’s National Hunt Chase.
“He again qualifies for the National Hunt Chase so will go straight there, despite having a penalty for winning this,” Cromwell added.
“You couldn’t have said he was beaten when falling at the second-last at Cheltenham last March and he was a maiden (over fences) coming here, so it was a nice way to break his maiden tag.
“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.
“There was definitely a period when my horses were out of form, but I had a lot of moderate and badly handicapped ones too, which probably made everything look a lot worse.
“We didn’t get to restock like you’d love to for this season and last year we were so lucky to win big handicaps when everything fell into place. We had the first three home in the Dan Moore Chase last year, but those same horses ran again this year when they were badly handicapped. That’s the nature of the game.”
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