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SOLNESS REWARDED THE faith of connections who supplemented him into the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown to give Joseph O’Brien a second Grade One success of the Christmas period.
Just 24 hours on from watching Banbridge win the King George VI Chase at Kempton, O’Brien was back home in Ireland to witness the 28-1 scorer lead his rivals a merry dance.
Well beaten behind Jonbon in the Tingle Creek last time out, J J Slevin took no prisoners on the six-year-old and after an early skirmish for the lead, was soon out in front charting a wide passage.
One by one, the big hitters like Gaelic Warrior, Found A Fifty, Dinoblue and Marine Nationale were sending out distress signals, as Solness maintained his advantage at the head of affairs.
Gaelic Warrior, having his first run of the season, did stay on past Marine Nationale to finish second, but was still three and three-quarter lengths behind the victor.
Grade 1 glory for Solness and JJ Slevin 🟢⚪️
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) December 27, 2024
A memorable Christmas continues for @JosephOBrien2, who backs up King George success with victory in the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase 💪 pic.twitter.com/FojULZfo31
Solness was introduced into the Champion Chase betting at 25-1 by Paddy Power, while Gaelic Warrior was pushed out to 5-1 from 7-2. Jonbon was tightened at the head of the betting to 2-1 from 5-2.
“I actually had this lad in the mile-and-a-half maiden at Dundalk last Friday!” said O’Brien.
“Ground is important to him. I spoke to J J before and he felt that he’d go wide and find the driest strip of ground that he could find.
“He jumped fantastic and looked to be going very smooth all the way through the race.”
The winner was supplemented for the race at a cost of €12,500 and O’Brien added: “I probably should have had him in it, to be honest, but the race closed before he ran very well in Navan in graded company.
“Since then, he looked like he was competing at this level, so we had a discussion the other morning and I thought he could sneak into the first three – and he had to be third to get the money back.
“We said we’d take a chance and I’m delighted to win. I’m delighted for J J as well, to get a Grade One here this week is very special.
“He had a tough day yesterday, getting a couple of falls after being just back from injury. He gave him the most fantastic ride.
“He’s been a great horse for the owners. I think he’ll head on to a Champion Chase and be an outside contender.”
Romeo Coolio bounced back to winning ways with an authoritative display in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Gordon Elliott has always thought the world of the five-year-old, but he was beaten in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse last time out.
Nevertheless, he was sent off the 7-4 favourite to go one better in this Grade One and the result never looked in doubt.
An early mistake from Karniquet meant he was always on the back foot and he dropped away before the turn for home, which left Bleu De Vassy, a stablemate of the winner, as the main danger.
Romeo Coolio quickened away on the run to the last and had the race in safe keeping, only to make a bit of a mess of it, but it was to his credit that Sam Ewing gathered his reins and he was soon back in top gear.
He went on to win by an impressive nine lengths and was halved in price from 20-1 to 10-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle by Betfair.
Romeo Coolio is back! 😍
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2024
Grade 1 victory in the @paddypower Future Champions Novice Hurdle for @gelliott_racing and Sam Ewing 🏆@LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/pY2r6f43im
“Obviously it didn’t go to plan the last day and we all went home a bit disappointed,” said Elliott.
“I’m delighted for the boys, they are back over here today. I’m very proud of the horse, and the boys that own him, as they are big supporters of Cullentra.
“He had a little blip the last day and we’re very happy. Looking at that today, I’d say just a fast gallop is what he needs. He looked good there today.
“We said after the last day, we were going to go on and keep it simple. I’d imagine he’ll probably go for the Supreme Novices’.”
Earlier, Jeannot Lapin caused a 150-1 surprise when making a winning debut under rules in the Paddy Power From The Horses Mouth Podcast Beginners Chase at Leopardstown.
Having failed to win in three point-to-points, the giant Gearoid O’Loughlin-trained five-year-old travelled sweetly throughout, defying his huge odds.
With the Willie Mullins-trained favourite It’s For Me pulled up early on by Daryl Jacob, it was What’s Up Darling who chased the winner home.
Wendrock took the scalp of classy Flat performer Galileo Dame to get off the mark for Gordon Elliott in the three-year-old maiden hurdle.
Bought by Gigginstown House Stud for 82,000 guineas having finished third twice on the level for Lucinda Russell, he put the experience of his hurdling debut to good use.
Joseph O’Brien’s Galileo Dame had been sent off favourite for the Cheshire Oaks in May and went on to finish second in two Listed races. But her jumping left plenty to be desired and she just held off Noel Meade’s promising Money Dancer for second.
Written by Press Association and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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I just simply ran a cable under the Irish sea to a friend’s in Wales and hooked up to their box with a splitter.
Try a vpn way cheaper
Genius ;)
Lol u live up to ur name cupid!
Simply install AnonymouX and you can change your ip address to a UK one and watch BBC online if you so wish.
Tips and tricks 2015
Just use a proxy/VPN. I use ZenMate from the Chrome Web Store. It’s free and you can change your IP address to one from the UK, US, Germany, Romania or Hong Kong.
Hola is a service that tacks on to your browser and changes you to the US or UK at the touch of a button.
I use hola on the lap top and my iPhone. It’s great for netflix and I’ve never had a problem with it
You just risk someone else looking at dodgy content on your ip address that could land you in trouble. Never heard of Zenmate. Does the same risk apply and does it work on iOS??
You could just not look at ‘dodgy content’. Or if you have to look whatever that is, just do it when you don’t have the vpn turned on and just let Eircom/UPC look at your ‘dodgy content’.
The way Hola works is someone in another country could be looking at all sorts if stuff but yet the cops will knock on your door.
I’ve read my post 3 times now and I still can’t understand how you misunderstood it???
@Darren – re-read Bob’s initial comment, he’s correct in what he’s saying.
Why not just throw a £5 paywall on it for people outside the UK?
RTE could make a buck by doing the same, they’ll probably ruin it though, and get greedy.
They’d actually make a good bit on it, with the positive reaction to the hurling on Sky last year.
I only watch it for the Angelus myself.
Because nobody would pay to watch Fair City…
Fairly Sh!tty :)
And this is why God invented IP proxy services. I can happily watch BBC and US Netflix from the comfort of my sitting room. The world and technology is changing quicker than regulation can keep up!
F*ck the story, isn’t my angel Benedict looking beautiful?
I thought I’d find you letching here…
You can get all the UK channels at filmon.com for free, streaming in real time. Many other country’s channels too, works great in Ireland.
Hola Unblocker is brilliant! I watch BBC, CBS, Hulu with no problems.
+1
Hold works great. Watched the whole world snooker championship with no stoppages
if only there were some way to use a proxy to fool the BBC website into thinking your browser originates in the UK. But as far as I know no such technology exists and we will have to make do with RTE…
No one is saying there’s no way around it now! But obviously it would be far better if you didn’t have to find a back door in the first place.
That said, what on earth does “cross-border access to the content [...but not...] wanting to destroy this principle of territoriality” mean? He didn’t think that might need a little clarification?
Bismarck would be happy
Does anyone care??!!!!
Yes. The hundreds of thousands of us who use Netflix from Ireland, for example.
Yes you pay for a service that shafts you even before you start to watch. European version of netflix is terrible. The American version has way more content. Hence your getting shafted. Get what you can for free. It’s always better when it’s free.
Type stream into Google. Whatever happens after that is up to you
And they wonder why there’s piracy. Take what you can get after all even if your a good law abiding citizen your still going to get shafted all the way to the bank. Thats a fact. So don’t start with the smart comments. Just enjoy life. After all one way or another we’re all getting robbed ripped off and scammed. If you worry you die. If you don’t worry you still die. Enjoy life
Hidninja vpn …problem solved ..
I have iPlayer on my Sky box and I swear, I may have used it once in the past 3 months. You’re not missing too much.
I recently rented a book from the library, The Gym Bible , I was so impressed with it I decided I would buy it online , when I searched for it I discovered that it could be downloaded for free, happy days until it said that content was not available to download outside of America. I did but it in the end online for €20 but if i didnt have to i wouldnt have .
ExPat Shield is brilliant for changing your IP address to a UK one. Works perfectly for BBC or ITV players.
Their blocking UK based vpns now as well.
have your say