MOSCOW FLYER BACK IN GROOVE

AINTREE: What was Cheltenham’s loss became Aintree’s gain as Moscow Flyer redeemed his reputation with a brilliant performance to win the Martell Cognac Melling Chase at Aintree yesterday. Having given away his two-mile crown when unseating Barry Geraghty at the fourth-last fence in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the pride of Ireland displayed versatility as well as class as he destroyed his rivals. It may have been his first attempt at two and a half miles over fences, but he performed as though he was a specialist at the distance. And he maintained his record of never having been beaten when putting in a clear round, recording his 13th, and arguably most impressive success from 18 outings.

Cenkos poached a 10-length lead when the tapes went up but it counted for nothing as the seven-strong field bunched up as they passed the post on the first circuit, with Moscow Flyer settled into a rhythm in third place. Moscow Flyer joined the leader at the ninth fence before Mick Fitzgerald decided to generate some extra pace by sending Isio on. But if he believed that it would take the sting out of the evens favourite, he was wrong. At the fourth from home there were only four horses in it after Le Roi Miguel fell at the 12th and Flagship Uberalles and Strong Magic were well behind.

Soon there were only two to fight it out as Cenkos found the heat too much and Native Upmanship, winner for the past two years, could not live with the pair up front. Isio held a narrow lead at the third-last, but when Geraghty pressed the button between the final two fences the race was over. After putting in a clever jump at the last, Moscow Flyer bounded clear to win by six lengths. Isio deserves credit, too, as he was 13 lengths ahead of the third, Native Upmanship.

Geraghty could not have been happier with the way the race went. He said: “The horse was far more relaxed today than at Cheltenham. He settled and he wasn’t in as big a rush over the early fences. “I got him switched off. He got into a rhythm and he jumped brilliantly the whole way. “Mick quickened up down the back and again in the straight, hich suited me. I didn’t want to be in front. I got a perfect lead and as soon as he hit the front he just dossed and then he popped the last. “I’ve ridden Isio and he’s a very good horse but I rate very few ahead of mine, if any. His record shows that every time he’s stood up, he’s won.