FAST AND THE FURY

Affordale gets the better of Galopin Des Champs

- By GARY CARSON

AFFORDALE Fury rallied to great effect to land Grade One honours in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

All eyes were on dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs as he made his belated seasonal bow as the 6-5 favourite and it briefly looked as though he would enjoy a dream return in the extended three-mile contest.

Affordale Fury proved incredibly game for jockey Sam Ewing though, having been in the front rank throughout, he was briefly headed by Galopin Des Champs turning for home but kept finding more to edge back in front at the last.

He then had to fend off the late finish of 2024 Grand National winner I Am Maximus, who was two and a half lengths back in second, with Galopin Des Champs a further three-quarters of a length away in third.

The Noel Meade-trained Affordale Fury is now 10-1 from 50s with Paddy Power for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, with the handler enjoying his first top-level strike since Beacon Edge won the 2021 Drinmore Novice Chase.