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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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Surely who ever is good for the role, regardless of gender, should be acceptable. Otherwise, you might end up with a Dee Forbes.
Are you saying that in all of Ireland’s history, we never had a women who was capable of the role of Taoiseach? Just all men who so happened to be capable?
@9QRixo8H: Yes, the ‘merit’ argument only holds if there are equal opportunities, which there never have been on account of lack of childcare etc. These days, misogyny and general abuse may dissuade women from entering politics, sadly.
@9QRixo8H: I don’t think that’s what Anthony is saying, at all.
If the government made only one nomination, and that was a woman, would there be the same commentary?
But the main point surely is that either the government (in this case the State) is correct, and our Ursula doesn’t have this power.
Or she does.
if she doesn’t, then she should not be allowed to impose authority that she does not have.
@9QRixo8H: I can’t think of any.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: It is a request not an order, there is no imposition of authority involved.
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: there is an implied threat.
@Nodon: An implied threat to do what?
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: She requested 2 candidates, one male and one female.
The government submitted one, and told her this was their choice.
She *again* requested that the government submit 2 candidates.
She doesn’t seem to want to accept no as an answer.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: She wrote to ALL of the member states governments asking them all to send two candidates – some probably already have, others have not.
This is not a dialogue between her and the Irish government this is her asking all the members.
Now how will it look if we’re the only hold out? How about if we’re one of many?
Nobody has mentioned how any other government has responded are we out on a limb or one of the crowd? I have no idea but I’m guessing that we’re not out on a limb.
Filling positions should not be based on gender but ability.
@ian: That would suggest the those in government – both here and in the EU – don’t believe that what they do requires any special ability.
And that appearances are more important.
@ian: Exactly and it is the prerogative of the Government of each member State to decide who to nominate.
Is she legally entitled under EU legislation to request this ?
@Tom Reidy: Frau Genocide thinks she can do as she likes. An affront to democracy and the original ideals of the European project. Free Palestine.
@Tom Reidy: She can ask, like she did before, she cannot and did not insist.
There are a whole lot of people seemingly determined to make a mountain of this rather undersized mole hill.
It’s absolutely none of Von Der Leyens business if EU countries nominate 1 person or 5 people for their countries commissioner roll. So she should stay out of it.
What a picture. Martin standing by, watching on like a bold school boy and ready to do whatever he’s told to do by the demon headmistress!
@Andrew Kenny: Or someone signing a visitors’ book while her host waits politely.
@Brendan O’Brien: Of course that’s what is actually happening in the photo but how ironic that the real boss in that picture works out of Brussels. We ain’t as ‘independent’ as we think we are!
@Andrew Kenny: where did u see that ?He is standing firm with his nomination so wise up
@Brendan O’Brien: what an a#(hole you really are.
Irish government recreating China Here – THE CIRCUIT COURT will be able to order social media platforms and digital services providers to identify people who are anonymously posting defamatory material, under Ireland’s new defamation law.
@087 bed: Sounds good. You don’t think there should be laws against defamation?
@Brendan O’Brien: Yes there should be laws against defamation. Should juries be removed from the courts in defamation trails?
@Brendan O’Brien: This is about silencing decent as you well know, Be careful what you wish for, You might be next. All the Best
@087 bed: Defamation isn’t dissent.
@Brendan O’Brien: Defamation is a censorship buzz word.
@Brendan O’Brien: you’re guilty of Defamation of people on here. Myself for example when you’ve labelled me Far right and you say I’m a fake profile and even naming who you supposedly think am. That defamation of my character.
@Ger Whelan: I doubt any of that would fall under the legal definition of defamation, verbal abuse maybe.
there is a tradition here in Ireland of rewarding a senior Govt Minister with the plum job and they will not risk the possible shame of their Senior man being sidelined by a less connected woman
@Gerry Ryan: Any politican can be a Senior Minister just look at the currant crop.
@David Murray: yes, this years currant crop is expected to be poor because if the bad weather. As to the CURRENT crop of minister in government , they are expected to be poor under all known circumstances.
Our outgoing Commissioner is female, the incoming one is male… What part of gender equality does the current nominee offend?
@Brian Merriman: Probably von der Leyen would like flexibility to achieve gender balance on the Commission as a whole.
I don’t have a high opinion of the current Government but if they stand up VOn der Leyon this time I will have a bit more respect for them. On the other hand if they give in to this silly request they will be worthy of nothing more than utter contempt.
Send her Danny and Michael Healy Rea
Healy Rea’s X 2
Apart from the obvious giving the position to the most qualified, what’s more important here is Von Der Leyen overstepping. She needs to rein it in a bit.
Blatant gender discrimination. I genuinely feel sorry if the role is awarded to a woman cos she’ll feel she only got it because of that
@Ian McDonald: I don’t suppose all the men who have been promoted above more qualified/competent women were ashamed.
@Brendan O’Brien: examples being ……. ?
@Ian McDonald: There must be thousands. Every large company will have had many. Thankfully times are changing.
I picked this article: there are many other studies with similar findings.
Jobs for the boys only. Old school still.
I have a sneaky suspicion that this is a backdoor route for the EU president of the day to pick the commisionor and thus command their loyalty and very little to do with gender balance in order to fill up the commision with lackys.
Did Germany and Estonia propose a man?
They shouldn’t have voted for her she is now a dictator tell her to get lost
Michael McGrath and Michaela McGrath – simples!
have your say