Horantzau D'airy (5/2) capitalised on his good fortune to clinch victory in the beginners' chase at Leopardstown. As the 146-rated Aspire Tower approached the final fence, an unexpected turn of events unfolded.
Thecompanysergeant, who was in contention, suffered a fall, followed swiftly by Aspire Tower, leaving Horantzau D'airy and jockey Paul Townend in a commanding lead.
Despite facing a late challenge from stablemate Paul Marvel (18/1), Horantzau D'airy managed to maintain his lead and secure the win by a length and a quarter. The gap widened further with Je T'ai Porte finishing a distant six and a half lengths behind in third place at 100/1 odds.
Reflecting on the race, trainer Willie Mullins acknowledged the element of luck in their victory, stating,
“It was a bit fortuitous, but if you're not in, you can't win.”
Mullins expressed his satisfaction with Horantzau D'airy's performance and confirmed the gelding's continued pursuit in chasing events until the summer. Regarding Paul Marvel, he added optimistically,
“Paul Marvel will give his best as long as the ground conditions remain favourable.”