Paddy Corkery: Master McShee met a superstar in Galopin Des Champs

It is not often the trainer of a horse who finishes second in a Grade 1 is applauded back into the winner’s enclosure but that is exactly what happened to Paddy Corkery at Leopardstown on Sunday after his horse of a lifetime, Master McShee, chased home Galopin Des Champs in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase.

Corkery believes the eight-year-old bumped into "a superstar" but reported his charge to have come out of Leopardstown in great shape and revealed a tilt at Fairyhouse or Aintree could be next.

The trainer said: “The winner was exceptional. He's a serious horse. There was a star in front of us and a few stars in behind us as well. I was just a bit unlucky to meet such a good horse, a superstar in Galopin Des Champs.”

'Up there with the best novices I've ridden' – Galopin Des Champs wows Townend

Corkery added: “[Racecourse MC] Kevin O'Ryan asked me after the race, what was I thinking for the horse next and whether I'd go to Fairyhouse or not. 'Kevin,' I said, 'whatever about Fairyhouse, it's a fairytale.' The only thing I've ruled out is Cheltenham.

“Fairyhouse could be an option as could Aintree. There's the Grade 1 novice chase [TUE Gold Cup] at Fairyhouse and the Irish Grand National. There's a couple of novice chases at Aintree as well.”

Galopin Des Champs moves clear of Master McShee in the Ladbrokes Novice ChaseCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Cheltenham may be off the agenda for this year with Master McShee – who won a Grade 1 novice chase at Limerick over Christmas – but Corkery is satisfied that his star inmate is beginning to gain the respect he deserves despite finding Galopin Des Champs nine lengths too good at Leopardstown.

He explained: “If Willie Mullins or any of the other big trainers had Master McShee, he'd have definitely started second favourite. I can see people's point. They may have been saying, 'will this clown ever get the horse to the race in as good of form as he was the last day.' It's probably more of a reflection on the trainer than the horse.”

Corkery added: “He came out of the race in super form and was on the beach this morning [Monday] already. He walked down the beach and back through the water and his head was bouncing up and down. He's in a good place in his mind and we'll bring him back down to earth now. In three or four weeks' time we'll go building again. The seed has been set for his next race and we’re happy.”

Read reports from the Dublin Racing Festival

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Bookies spared 'significant' seven-figure payout as 40-1 shot wins bumper

'Up there with the best novices I've ridden' – Galopin Des Champs wows Townend

'I would put this fella in a different league' - Chacun is Mullins' number one

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