Punchestown 2004

EUSTACE KEEPS ROOSTER AT BAY
Hardy Eustace held off the late challenge of Rooster Booster to claim the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle.

COWBOY SCORES BY SEVEN LENGTHS
Rhinestone Cowboy was given a rapturous reception in a packed winner‘s enclosure after amateur J P Magnier brought the eight-year-old on steadily to come from behind and beat stablemate Iris‘s Gift by seven lengths in the Grade 1 Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers‘ Hurdle.

MOSCOW FINISHES CAMPAIGN WITH A FLYER
The mighty Moscow Flyer maintained his remarkable record of never being beaten when completing over fences after justifying 4/11 favouritism to hold off the persistent Rathgar Beau by two lengths in the Grade 1 BETDAQ.com Chase to the delight of trainer Jessica Harrington.

BEEF OR SALMON COMES GOOD
Beef Or Salmon bounced back to his very best to land a great renewal of the EUR180,000 Grade 1 Heineken Gold Cup, the feature event on day two of the Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown today, coming home four lengths clear of Harbour Pilot.

INCA BATTLES BRAVELY
Brave Inca, who came home to rapturous applause after winning last month's Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, received a similar reception after getting the better of Aintree winner Royal Shakespeare in a photo for the Grade 1 Evening Herald Novices' Hurdle.

EUSTACE KEEPS ROOSTER AT BAY
Hardy Eustace held off the late challenge of Rooster Booster to claim the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle.

Dessie Hughes' seven-year-old, winner of the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, looked to be in trouble turning for home as Rooster Booster cruised up on the rail.

However, the 13-8 favourite was still some two lengths behind approaching the last flight and although Richard Johnson stoked him up for a determined effort, he could not catch Hardy Eustace, going down by a length.

Fota Island stayed on well to be third but was never a danger to the winner, who was sent off the 3-1 second favourite.

Hardy Eustace was confirming Cheltenham form with Rooster Booster, having beaten him five lengths at the Cotswolds track.

It wasn't all plain sailing for winning jockey Conor O'Dwyer as he was pushing from around four out as long-time leader Solerina began to step up the pace.

A couple of flicks with the whip put Hardy Eustace right back on terms, though, and he pressed on three flights from home as Solerina ran out of gas.

Johnson, who had settled Rooster Booster towards the back of the field, was going ominously well turning for home.

But Hardy Eustace found a bit extra and although Rooster Booster was pegging him back slowly on the run-in, he never looked like getting there.

COWBOY SCORES BY SEVEN LENGTHS
Rhinestone Cowboy was given a rapturous reception in a packed winner‘s enclosure after amateur J P Magnier brought the eight-year-old on steadily to come from behind and beat stablemate Iris‘s Gift by seven lengths in the Grade 1 Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers‘ Hurdle.

Trainer Jonjo O‘Neill was full of praise for Magnier‘s ride and said: "J P has never done anything wrong on this horse so I don‘t know why he has had stick from some people. He gave it a great spin today because the horse was getting a bit silly halfway through the race, he was just idling and fluffed one as a result.

" They went a decent gallop all the way and he got the trip well which was the worry beforehand."

Rhinestone Cowboy was also declared for tomorrow‘s Emo Oil Champion Hurdle but O‘Neill said: "At this stage he would be very unlikely to run although we could change our minds if he was bucking and kicking in the morning."

Iris‘s Gift was bidding to supplement wins at Cheltenham and Aintree and O‘Neill added: "He ran a great race but we have probably just gone to the well once too often with him. He‘ll be going over fences now."

There was a dramatic conclusion to the Grade 1 Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase when Colca Canyon fell at the last fence, bringing down 8/11 favourite Kicking King and leaving the two-mile event at the mercy of Say’Again, trained by Paul Nolan.

" We had a lucky escape from the carnage at the last and whether we would have won anyway I really don‘t know," said Nolan. "He had a bit of trouble early in his career so I‘ve never wanted to run him on fast ground. He‘s better with a bit of juice in the ground and this was beautiful today.

" We might try and pick up a bit of prize money on the Flat now as he‘s only rated about 65."

The veteran Wotsitooya bagged a valuable prize when holding off Timbera to take the EUR55,000 Castlemartin Stud Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase under Davy Russell by two and a half lengths.

" He‘s 12 years of age and I wondered if there were many more races in him," said winning trainer Michael O‘Brien. "He should have won a good race at Limerick earlier in the season but got disqualified when they went the wrong way so this was some compensation. Davy gets on really well with the horse."

O‘Brien felt Essex was an unlucky loser when third in the Grade 1 Colm McEvoy Auctioneers Champion 4YO Hurdle earlier in the day.

" He missed the third last and I think would have just about won but for that," said O‘Brien. "A couple of his owners come from Galway so we are planning to send him there for an amateur race on the first day of the Festival."

Willie Mullins was full of praise for jockey Ruby Walsh after he brought home Ballyamber to a 20-length success in the Masterchef‘s Hospitality Novice Chase.

" That was a brilliant tactical ride from Ruby," said Mullins. "Our horse is a front runner but so were four or five other ones in the race so we sat behind and Ruby knew they couldn‘t keep up the fast pace.

" I don‘t know where we‘ll go now but I think we‘ll keep him to two or two and a quarter miles."

Today‘s crowd at Punchestown was 18,234, up 4 per cent on last year‘s figure of 17,400.

BEEF OR SALMON COMES GOOD
Beef Or Salmon bounced back to his very best to land a great renewal of the EUR180,000 Grade 1 Heineken Gold Cup, the feature event on day two of the Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown today, coming home four lengths clear of Harbour Pilot.

Michael Hourigan's charge, who finished fourth to Best Mate in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on his most recent start, has had a series of problems and the trainer paid credit to physiotherapist Liz Kent and eventer Sue Short for the success.

"He didn't jump in the first four races this season but still won two of them," said Hourigan. "But once we found the problem, Liz Kent, Sue Short and my daughter Kay did all the work. It's more a question of what didn't they do with him!

"Liz started working on him twice a week and then advised we bring in Sue to do dressage with him because that moves the whole body. They did some job with him. "I was hopeful that with a clear run he'd deliver the goods but I didn't think he'd do it so well. Timmy's very patient and given him a super ride there - he's a real professional.

"He certainly was not like he was today before Cheltenham, if he had been he would have finished a lot nearer for sure, I don't know if he'd have won but that's all history now.

"He'll get his holiday now and then next year I think we'd go down the same sort of road again, races like the Hennessy again."

The winner returned to a huge roar and an emotional Hourigan added: "Dorans Pride was wonderful but this one is better because he has more gears. I'm so fortunate to find another after Dorans Pride - you'd be lucky to find one in a lifetime - but I've found two.

"He had no problems at any stage today and it was over in two strides - he's that type of horse."

Jessica Harrington, who won Tuesday's feature BETDAQ.com Chase with Moscow Flyer, had her second success at the 2004 Festival when Willie The Shoe - a recent arrival at her local yard - took the opening Lemongrass Restaurants Handicap Hurdle.

The seven-year-old, owned by Tom Doran, had previously been with Michael Hourigan and Harrington said: "He's only been with me for about ten days and Michael has done all the work with him - I've just ticked him over. He'll campaign on through the summer on good ground."

Moscow Flyer returned home safe and sound after his win. "He's perfect and was out having a roll this morning," added Harrington.

Arch Stanton justified 2/1 favouritism in the Tattersalls (Ireland) Ltd Novice Hurdle when landing a smooth three and a half length success to put jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins on the scoresheet for the week.

"It's good to get a winner on board," said Mullins. "He was a shade unlucky when second at Fairyhouse last time and I think he's finished jumping for the season, the ground is getting too quick for him now. But he might have one or two runs on the Flat."

Veteran trainer Paddy Mullins - who had his first Punchestown Festival winner more than 40 years ago - supplied 7lb-claiming rider Mark Watts with his first professional success when Hurry Bob held on to take the J F Dunne Insurances Handicap Hurdle.

"I thought three miles might be a bit far for him and I thought we were losing ground at the end," said Mullins.

Watts was delighted by the victory. "I thought he had a good chance but I had to pull out all the stops. I turned professional two years ago and it's great to get this first win - I've had a good few rides but just no luck."

Definate Spectacle "the gamble of the week" according to one bookmaker, justified 9/4 favouritism in the Kielys Of Donnybrook Hurdle when scoring by an easy six lengths and trainer Noel Meade believes there could be better to come from the former useful Flat performer.

"He was rated over 100 on the Flat and there's no doubt he could be useful," said Meade. "His coat hasn't come right and I think he needs a break now - I wasn't proud of how he looked but I was proud of how he ran today! They went very fast today but he was always travelling well, he has a lot of speed and could pick them up easily."

Local trainer David Broad had his biggest success to date and his first at Punchestown  when Prince Of Pleasure landed the S M Morris Ltd Handicap Chase at 25/1. Danny Howard, successful in Saturday's Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown on Puntal, continued an excellent few days.

"The ground was a big factor and we quietly fancied him today," said Broad.

MOSCOW FINISHES CAMPAIGN WITH A FLYER
The mighty Moscow Flyer maintained his remarkable record of never being beaten when completing over fences after justifying 4/11 favouritism to hold off the persistent Rathgar Beau by two lengths in the Grade 1 BETDAQ.com Chase to the delight of trainer Jessica Harrington.

"Barry (Geraghty) said that was the nicest ride he'd ever had off the horse in Ireland because they went a good gallop," said Harrington. "The horse was very switched off which is great, you can always rev them up again. It's great to finish off the season like that and he'll be out in a field next week. I was delighted to see him so relaxed today."

Harrington confirmed that Moscow Flyer is now on course for a step up in trip to three miles for the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton, for which he is quoted at 5/1 with Cashmans.

"The King George is the idea now and it's only if it was bottomless ground that we might think again, he's 10 now and will be 11 next year," added the trainer. "He'll probably start off over two miles, though, in the Fortria Chase at Navan, where he began this season."

INCA BATTLES BRAVELY
Brave Inca, who came home to rapturous applause after winning last month's Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, received a similar reception after getting the better of Aintree winner Royal Shakespeare in a photo for the Grade 1 Evening Herald Novices' Hurdle.

The winner, one of just 16 horses trained by Co Kerry-based Colm Murphy, is now unbeaten in four starts and connections are dreaming of further Cheltenham success next March.

"He's class, just unbelievable," said Murphy, who spent six years learning the trade with Aidan O'Brien. "Every time you work him, he just frightens you - he's that good. He won at Cheltenham on the Tuesday but didn't come back until Thursday and we had to ride him out on Thursday morning as he was so fresh.

"At the moment we are thinking along the lines of the Champion Hurdle next season. We won't be in a hurry to get him back in, we'll probably only give him one run before Christmas.

"My heart was in my mouth today but he's as tough as nails. The ground had dried out enough for him today, he'd prefer more of a stiff two miles."

Jockey Barry Cash was equally thrilled by the victory. "He doesn't do a lot when he hits the front and I was worried turning for home. But he's as tough as nail and loves a battle and I don't think you'll see him win by four or five lengths again, he knows how to do just enough now." said the rider. "The track is in absolutely perfect condition but the ground was lively enough for him. This is my local track so to win here makes it a bit special."

There was a turn-up in the fiercely-competitive Murphy International Ltd Handicap Hurdle when Joey Elliott, now based in Britain with Martin Pipe, brought home the Michael Cunningham-trained Supreme Being in front.

The winner paid 85/1 on the Tote and returned a 33/1 starting price but the victory was not a total surprise to Cunningham.

"He was fourth in this a couple of years ago when Shay Barry thought he would have won but he lost 20 lengths when one fell in front of him," said the trainer. "We planned to run him at Fairyhouse but he was cast in his box so did not run. But he was on a perfect weight of 9st 4lb today, the ground was perfect and Joey is riding very well."

The EUR100,000 Bewleys Hotels & European Breeders Fund National Hunt Fillies' Championship Bumper gave 7lb-claiming amateur Leonard Flynn the biggest success of his career when coming home two lengths in front aboard Missindependence for trainer Charlie Swan.

HUGE CROWD

Today' s attendance at Punchestown was a modern-day record of 15,229, 17.1 per cent up on the crowd figure of 13,000 on this day 12 months ago.

The four-day Irish National Hunt Festival, which this year boasts record prize money of EUR1.7 million, continues until Friday.