Racing: Geraghty seizes the riding honours

It was no novelty that Irish jockeys dominated the opening salvos here yesterday – only Richard Johnson scored for the home side – but rather less predictable was the identity of the rider who would be leading the way.

Barry Geraghty is at the top of the charts after a pair of victories as thrilling as they were narrow. Inching Closer's defeat of Royal Emperor in the Pertemps Final, which provided Jonjo O'Neill with his 100th training success of the season, was by the minimum distance.

Geraghty was also aboard Youlneverwalkalone and in the notable green and gold colours of JP McManus in the National Hunt Handicap Chase. The winning margin was a slightly more generous three-quarters of a length over Haut Cercy, whose trainer, Henry Daly, tried and failed to be generous in return. "I know you are meant to be gracious in defeat," he said, "but damn."

For once Youlneverwalkalone's long ears will not be burning for there was evidence that he is not just a morning glory who shrivels once he gets to the course. Christy Roche, his trainer, felt many emotions, but principally vindication.

"Youlneverwalkalone has always been my favourite," he said. "He's proved me right today."

The nine-year-old has managed to attract the reputation of being as resilient as porridge and it looked a familiar story when he started to tie up after the last. "I was confident that he would find something off the bridle," Roche reported, "but a lot of people round me weren't.

"The step up in trip has been a big factor as he stays forever and his strong suit is stamina. I've always being trying to get him to be a good horse and he had Best Mate [last year's Gold Cup winner] just in front when he was third in the Supreme Novices' three years ago."

Royal Predica pushed Martin Pipe further ahead as the most successful active trainer at the Festival when he ran away with the Fulke Walwyn/ Kim Muir Challenge Cup.

The horse has not been right for some time and has been afflicted by a complaint which does not even feature in the vast trainer's excuses catalogue. "He was out with Linda Sweeting in Cornwall for his summer holidays," the nine-year-old's owner, Peter Deal, said, "but he was bitten by a snake. It took him a long time to recover."

The winner was partnered by another man from a land where they are not troubled by serpents. For Saul McHugh, a 22-year-old Ulsterman, this was a first ever winner under rules. "It is a great feeling to have ridden a winner at this meeting," he said, "but it's easy when you have the right horse under you."

Court move stops Lad

Davids Lad, declared to run in today's Mildmay Of Flete Chase, cannot now participate after a decision in the High Court in Dublin yesterday.

The Irish Turf Club had originally banned the horse from running for 42 days for using a race as a training exercise, but the nine-year-old's owners succeeded last Thursday with an application to the High Court for a stay on the ban. Yesterday a challenge from the Turf Club led to the stay being temporarily lifted, but a full hearing will be held tomorrow.

David Lad's trainer, Tony Martin, intended running him at Cheltenham as part of his build-up to the Grand National.

* Today's meeting at Newton Abbot has been abandoned due to waterlogging.