Affordale Fury delivered a first Grade One winner for County Down owner Philip Polly in a thrilling Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The seven-year-old, trained by Noel Meade, started and finished the three-mile race in good form to tear up the script.
Much of the pre-race story focused on a rematch of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, when Inothewayurthinkin Galopin denied Des Champs a third straight victory, but that match did not materialize this time.
Instead, it was those in red and black who celebrated as Sam Ewing guided Affordale Fury (7-1) to a big win.
“I can’t believe it, what a week we’ve had,” a delighted Polly told RTE Sport.
“We won the Bumper on Boxing Day and now we have rocked and won the Savills.”
Champ Kiely was an early faller on the flat as Affordale Fury stepped out in front of a crowded field.
It remained wide open heading into the last two fences when favorite Galopin Des Champs made a move.
However, the Willie Mullins-trained favorite had to settle for third as Affordale Fury responded brilliantly to take second from 2024 Grand National winner I Am Maximus (50-1).
It was a fantastic two days for Ewing, who topped Favori De Champdou and Solness for class one wins on Saturday.
“I wanted to be good and positive going into the first one and seeing where we ended up,” Ewing said.
“He completed very strong, winged obstacles for the sport and there was no turning back. He was courageous and is a real horse in the making.”
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