Impressive First Grade 1 Triumph for Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen as Strong Leader Steps Up

The seven-year-old engaged in a long battle with Buddy One in the home straight, but wore down that rival after the final flight and galloped clear to land a first Grade 1 triumph. Winning rider Sean Bowen enjoyed his breakthrough at the highest level when winning this race on If The Cap Fits in 2019. “I picked my way around and had to keep going forward or else he’d be stepping at the moment. He missed the last couple, but he was brilliant.

Jeez he saw it out well,”
Strong Leader gave Murphy a second Grade 1 triumph of his career, over four years after his first, and was more big-race glory this year for the trainer. He won the Imperial Cup last month as well as striking at Fairyhouse’s Irish Grand National meeting with popular veteran Brewin’upastorm. An emotional Murphy, who ran off in tears after the victory, said: “This is my best day as a trainer. This lad is a home bred and they’re just ten minutes down the road from me.

This meant an awful lot. I’m adamant this horse doesn’t like Cheltenham, he doesn’t go up and down hills well enough. I was ballsy enough to leave it alone and save him for this day.” Buddy One plugged on to finish a gallant second, narrowly denying the third-placed Hiddenvalley Lake.

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