Fakir D'Oudairies stays out of trouble to gain deserved big-race success

In a race full of mishaps, drama and rodeo acts, Fakir D'Oudairies enjoyed a dream passage before taking off in the latter stages to rid himself of his reputation as a nearly horse with a dominant victory under Mark Walsh.

With five second-placed finishes in his previous six starts, Fakir D'Oudairies had his resolution questioned in some quarters, but there was no doubting his spirit as he powered his way to an 11-length success just three weeks after running in a gruelling Ryanair Chase.

Training prodigy Joseph O'Brien has pulled off some mean feats but to get the six-year-old back in such blistering form after he had his heart broken by a relentless Allaho at Cheltenham was something special.

Watch: Fakir D'Oudairies enjoys his day in the sun in the Marsh Chase

Sam Twiston-Davies set the tone for what was to come in an incident-packed contest when producing a miracle recovery as the front-running Master Tommytucker's jumping issues resurfaced at the fourth fence.

There was more drama at the top of the home straight as Nuts Well got squeezed between runners when making his move under Danny McMenamin.

Walsh had Fakir D'Oudairies out of trouble and, sensing it was time to capitalise on events around him, he let his mount stride on and the response was emphatic.

"I was going to hold on to him a bit longer but when the scrimmaging happened I thought I'd let him go on," the jockey said.

"He would have won regardless of what happened and he deserves his day in the sun.

"He's been running great all season, so I'm delighted he got his head in front. He had a hard race at Cheltenham in the Ryanair as they went a right good gallop and Joseph has done a good job of freshening him up."

Mark Walsh allows Fakir D'Oudairies to cost homeCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images)

Fakir D'Oudairies, one of four winners on the day for Ireland, already had a Grade 1 to his name – the 2019 Drinmore Novice Chase – but he had finished second in six other races at the highest level, including here when beaten a neck in the Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle two years ago.

Having jumped with great fluency on a sounder surface, the performance could open up more options.

"I always thought he wanted deeper ground, but they always say good horses go on any ground, and I think two and a half is his ideal trip," added Walsh. "He's a handy-type of horse with loads of scope and he loves his jumping."

Walsh had the ideal confidence boost before donning the JP McManus silks again in Saturday's Randox Grand National on leading contender Any Second Now.

McMenamin was left to reflect on what might have been after Nuts Well emerged from the argy-bargy to finish best of the rest on his first start since winning the Old Roan Chase at the course in October.

"We were turning in and things happen like that," he said. "It didn't cost us the race, I don't think, and we're happy with our lad as he's run a blinder."

Nuts Well's owner Ian Hamilton added: "I don't think it affected the result. The winner beat us easily enough, but our lad has run a belter. He's not run since October and although he's just getting started, I'm not sure where we can go next as Punchestown will come too soon."

Politologue, winner of the race - better known as the Melling Chase - three years ago, finished one place behind Itchy Feet in fourth.

Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "I thought it looked as if Politologue didn't stay two and a half miles. Harry [Cobden] said he was never actually going particularly well, but I thought he looked good for a long way and was travelling beautifully.

"He might be better over two though, and letting him really attack and jump rather than hanging on to him." Nicholls later reported his star chaser had bled.

The stewards held a lengthy inquiry into the interference and found Cobden guilty of improper riding on Politologue and suspended him for eight days.

Cobden was deemed to have "intentionally ridden across to cause interference to McMenamin [on Nuts Well], which in turn caused interference to Twiston-Davies [on Master Tommytucker] on the rail".

Cobden will miss the season finale at Sandown on April 24, with his ban running from April 23-24 and May 1, 3-7.

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