Salute for Samcro
He MIGHT have gone from brilliant to written- off via overhyped in the eyes of pundits and racegoers, but Samcro showed he is still here and packing a punch with a dramatic win in the Marsh novices’ Chase. After edging home by a nose from Melon under jockey Davy Russell, even Samcro’s trainer Gordon elliott conceded his faith in the horse — who has been laid low with persistent respiratory infections since winning the 2018 ballymore novices’ Hurdle — had been tested but living most of his life outside rather than in a stable to get him closer to bug-free fresh air, and having a breathing operation since his last run, Samcro’s V8 engine — at least yesterday — was back running smoothly. elliott, who later took his tally for the meeting to six winners when The Storyteller landed the Pertemps Hurdle Final and Milan native won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup, said: ‘It’s been hard to get him to scope right but we have done a lot of different things. ‘everyone was knocking him and I had lost a bit of faith in him myself. He has had his issues but he was right today.’ A mistake two out jolted the 4-1 shot’s momentum and briefly handed the advantage to Melon, who lost out despite rallying in the last 50 yards.
Melon’s defeat was a cruel twist for one of the Festival’s great bridesmaids. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding had previously finished second in the 2017 Supreme novices’ Hurdle and the 2018 and 2019 Champion Hurdles.
Samcro received a huge Festival cheer, but there was an equally big roar for third-placed Faugheen.
The 2014 ballymore winner and 2015 Champion Hurdler was probably running at his fifth and last Festival at the age of 12.
Owner Rich Ricci, who would later win the Ryanair Chase with Min, said: ‘He was magic. He has never jumped as well as he did today and if he had pinged the second-last he might have won.
‘It was a hard decision to run. He had been working the house down, but we are in the shop window of horseracing. The reception he got was magic.’
On the question of retirement, Ricci added: ‘It’s a difficult question. We have the spring festivals including Punchestown. The Irish would like to see him one more time. If he is fit and well and raring to go, we will probably call it a day then.’