Scorthy Champ floors Henri Matisse in National surprise

Gary Carson
September 15, 2024 3:38 pm

Joseph O’Brien’s charge bounces back at the Curragh.

Scorthy Champ inflicted a shock defeat on the previously unbeaten Henri Matisse in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh.

Henri Matisse had won each of his three previous starts for Aidan O’Brien, completing his hat-trick with a clear-cut victory in the Group Two Futurity Stakes over this course and distance three weeks ago despite jinking close to the finish.

The Wootton Bassett colt was the 5-6 favourite to make it four from four on his Group One debut, but his wayward tendencies were again in evidence and this time he did not get away with it.

Scorthy Champ reverses the form with Henri Matisse after putting in a near-perfect run in the @Goffs1866 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, scoring decisively for the duo of @DylanBrowneMcM and @JosephOBrien2 ✅ pic.twitter.com/hFveccTA9W
— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) September 15, 2024

Having made a winning debut at Leopardstown in mid-May, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Scorthy Champ made late headway to finish third in the Futurity after a tardy start and was a 12-1 shot for the rematch.

Dylan Browne McMonagle’s mount broke smarter this time around and after being produced to lead, he stayed straight and true, whereas Henri Matisse wandered left and right when coming under pressure and was three-quarters of a length behind at the line.

Hugo Palmer’s British raider Seagulls Eleven shaped with plenty of promise in third.