Joseph O’Brien enjoyed a second top-level success in as many days when Solness sprang a surprise to beat the returning-to-action Gaelic Warrior in the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained six-year-old raced wide throughout at the head of affairs with Willie Mullins' 13/8 market leader Gaelic Warrior, but last year's Arkle hero failed to match the finishing kick of Solness, who went on to fend off her rivals by three and three-quarter lengths to reward connections for paying the €12,500 cost to supplement her to the Grade 1 prize.
Fresh off watching Banbridge win the King George VI Chase at Kempton yesterday, winning trainer Joseph O'Brien said: "Ground is important to him. I spoke to JJ (Slevin) before and he felt that he'd go wide and find a strip of ground,"
"He jumped fantastic, and he looked to be going smoothly all the way around."
On the reason behind supplementing the six-year-old, who finished fourth behind Jonbon in the Tingle Creek at Sandown earlier this month, O'Brien added: "I probably should have had him in it to be honest, but when the race closed was before he ran very well in graded company at Navan. So, it's not been since then that he's been competing very well at this level,"
"We had a discussion the other morning and I felt he could sneak into the first three. So, we said we'd take a chance."
He added: "Coming here today we felt he had a real live each-way chance, but the ground was maybe a bit slower than what he really likes. He just got into a great rhythm. I think he made one mistake down the back but came straight back on the bridle and he jumped fantastic from there on in."
"I'm delighted for J J as well, to get a Grade 1 here this week is very special.
"He had a tough day yesterday, getting a couple of falls after being just back from injury. He gave him the most fantastic ride.
"He's been a great horse for the owners. He's won a whole bunch of races – hurdles and chases. We're going to go back and win a Flat race at some stage with him as well.
"I think he'll head on to a Champion Chase and be an outside contender."
