The two most recent winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup were among the 11 runners for the Grade One Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday but neither could match the strength and resilience of a resurgent Affordale Fury, as Noel Meade\u2019s seven-year-old made his breakthrough at the highest level after an injury-plagued career to date.<\/p>\n
Affordale Fury was the 150-1 runner-up in the three-mile Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham in March 2023, but his career since has included breaks of 438 and 241 days and Sunday\u2019s race was just his fifth chase start outside novice company.<\/p>\n
It was also his fourth outing since October, though, offering hope that his former fragility may now be behind him, and he set a decent gallop from the off despite persistently jumping to his right.<\/p>\n
He appeared to be running out of steam as Galopin Des Champs<\/a>, the Gold Cup winner in 2023 and 2024 and a five-time Grade One winner at Leopardstown over the Savills Chase\u2019s three-mile trip, took it up at the second-last.<\/p>\n Galopin Des Champs\u2019s familiar finishing kick did not materialise, however, and after another sharp jump to his right at the last, Affordale Fury stayed on again to beat I Am Maximus, the 2024 Grand National winner<\/a>, by two-and-a-half lengths with Galopin Des Champs next across the line.<\/p>\n Quick GuideGreg Wood’s Monday tipsShow<\/p>\n Kelso <\/p>\n 11.45 The Four Sixes 12.19 Golden Point\u00a012.54 Country Code 1.29 They Want Me\u00a02.04 Cavalier Du Luy 2.39 Speiriuil 3.15 Baratablet \u00a0<\/p>\n Doncaster <\/p>\n 11.50 Maximilian 12.25 Made U Blush\u00a01.00 Doctor Blue 1.35 Fierce Warrior 2.10 Spindleberry 2.45 Rockola Vogue 3.20 Aeroplane Blonde\u00a0<\/p>\n Newbury <\/p>\n 12.05 White Noise 12.40 Act Of Innocence 1.15 Jorebel (nb) 1.50 King\u2019s Threshold\u00a02.22 Castelfort 3.00 No Drama This End\u00a03.35 Newton Tornado<\/p>\n Newcastle <\/p>\n 3.10 Percy Willis 3.45 Starryfield\u00a04.15 Popty Ping 4.45 Towerlands 5.15 Monsieur Kodi 5.45 Francesi 6.15 Rooska 6.45 Stroblelight\u00a07.15 Goldmoyne (nap)<\/p>\n Thank you for your feedback.<\/p>\n