SYNCHRONISED

Unibet Champion Hurdle

Gold Cup 2012

ONLY five men — Danny Morgan, Fred Winter, Pat Taaffe, O’Neill and Jim Culloty — have won the Gold Cup as both trainer and jockey.

For most of the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup, O’Neill, successful in the saddle aboard Alverton and Dawn Run, looked unlikely to join the elite band. AP McCoy, sporting the silks of boss JP McManus, was soon at work after the nine-year-old’s mistakes at the first and third of the race’s 22 fences.

But, as a past winner of both the Welsh and Midlands Grand Nationals, Synchronised held stamina as his trump card.

“We were taking a gamble that he was classy enough,” admits O’Neill, “But we knew he’d stay.”

Synchronised, under the uncompromising McCoy, finally hit the front after the last obstacle to beat The Giant Bolster by two and a quarter lengths. “He had the right man on board,” adds O’Neill. “It was a match made in heaven.”

Tuesday (3.05)

DEFENDED her unbeaten record when nipping up the inside under Rachael Blackmore to deny Benie Des Dieux by half a length in a game display to land the Mares’ Hurdle 12 months ago, gaining a further two successes from two starts this winter.

Ground to a half-length margin over Ronald Pump for a repeat win in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in November on her return before impressing everybody with a sparkling 10-length victory over Abacadabras in the Irish Champion Hurdle — which she’d also captured 12 months earlier — at Leopardstown last month.

DE BROMHEAD SAYS:

All the judges say her last day was her best performance so far.

She’s put in a few real good ones in her racing career, but on ratings it would have been her best.

It was simply brilliant. It was what we hoped she’d do, and she did it. It’s lovely the way she picked up.

She looks very good over any trip of two to two and a half. She looks effective over anything, really.

She’s an amazing mare. We’ve also got (2020 Triumph Hurdle runner-up) Aspire Tower and (Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle winner) Jason The Militant. They both have good each-way chances.

NEWSBOY’S VERDICT:

Faces the toughest task of her career as she bids for an 11th victory over hurdles, but crushed her opponents at Leopardstown last time and has to be feared by all on that account.

ODDS: 2-1