I Can Imagine brought a year-long dream to a successful conclusion by winning yesterday's Paddy Power Handicap Chase and in the process proved her trainer is a very quick learner.
On the same day last year, Robert Tyner, based near Kinsale, was a little-known point-to-point man until the 33 to 1 Call Me Dara lifted the Christmas festival's richest pot.
Much was made of the Co Cork trainer's difficulty in finding the track on that occasion but even then he was plotting a comeback that would see another mare lift his name back into the headlines.
"After Call Me Dara won, I said I Can Imagine would win 20 minutes later in Clonmel. No one believed me but she did and I've had the Paddy Power in mind ever since," Tyner recollected.
Call Me Dara ran again yesterday, and galloped into an honourable eighth placing, but it was I Can Imagine that did the business for the 12-member "Keep It Quiet" syndicate. Rarely can a title have been so misleading as the owners from the small Cork village of Carrigtwohill roared themselves hoarse as Joey Elliott rode back to the winners' enclosure.
I Can Imagine, who paid almost 18 to 1 on the tote, had missed out on a warm-up run in the Conyngham Cup due to a stone bruise but Tyner explained: "She's easy to get fit and runs well fresh."
The Bunny Boiler and Manus The Man filled the minor placings, but the favourite, This Is Serious, managed only ninth after jumping poorly early on. The second favourite, It's Himself, fell at the sixth.
Ballyhampshire Boy was odds-on for the novice hurdle but flopped badly into fourth behind surprise winner Sacundai.
The favourite was found to be coughing afterwards and trainer Sean Aherne reported: "They went a bit slow early on. We will probably step him up in trip and let him do his own thing."
Sacundai, owned by a syndicate the includes Michael Lowry TD, got a 14 to 1 quote from Cashmans for the Supreme Novices Hurdle after putting eight lengths between himself and Yeoman's Point.
It continued Adrian Maguire's hot streak and trainer Edward O'Grady said: "It's quite similar to Florida Pearl in that both Barry Geraghty and Charlie Swan turned down the ride."
He added: "We will consider the Deloitte and Touche."
Alexander Milenium jumped to the top of the Cheltenham Bumper market after a scintillating debut success. The Willie Mullins-trained youngster ran out a 20-length winner and will go straight for the March festival.
"He was injured last year but we've always thought a lot of him. He has always done things very easily," Mullins said of the horse who shares 6 to 1 Cheltenham favouritism with Beechcourt.
Knife Edge is 14 to 1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase following a smooth defeat of Alcapone that left trainer Michael O'Brien more relieved than happy.
"My horses seem to have a bit of a problem with a lung infection. We're scoping them and this one seems okay. He won well enough but I think he can do better," he said.
Knife Edge will be aimed at Cheltenham warm-up at Naas in late February and O'Brien added: "If we can get him to Cheltenham at his best he will give a good account of himself."
