Punchestown National Hunt Festival 2005

Brave Inca, ridden for the first time by Tony McCoy, came out best in a brilliant finish to the Grade 1 Emo Oil Champion Hurdle on the final day of Punchestown's Irish National Hunt Festival, coming home a head in front of Harchibald. [more]

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking King was crowned a true champion on his home ground when effortlessly strolling home three lengths clear of Rule Supreme to land the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup on day two of the Irish National Hunt Festival. [more]

A far from foot perfect Moscow Flyer finally lost his unbeaten record when completing over fences after going down by a short-head to Rathgar Beau in a dramatic finish to the Grade 1 Kerrygold Champion Chase. [more]

INCA SO BRAVE
29/04/05

Brave Inca, ridden for the first time by Tony McCoy, came out best in a brilliant finish to the Grade 1 Emo Oil Champion Hurdle on the final day of Punchestown's Irish National Hunt Festival, coming home a head in front of Harchibald.

There was a slow pace for much of the two-mile contest and McCoy kicked for home two out with Macs Joy a length further back in third.

"It was a hell of a big ask to go to Cheltenham, Aintree and then here, he's as tough as nails and just always finds more," said winning trainer Colm Murphy. "He's been so consistent all season and unlucky not to have won before.

"Ideally you get him into a battle as he keeps finding and I thought that was the only way we were going to win.

"I spoke to AP last night to see what we would do, I pretty much left it up to him but there was no point in us making all the running to set it up for Harchibald."

Brave Inca was quoted at 5/1 favourite for the 2006 Irish Independent Arkle Chase by Cashmans and Murphy added: "He's going into a big green field of grass now and will be schooled over fences, that's definitely an option for next season. We're spoilt for choice really."

Noel Meade felt McCoy, who was replacing regular rider Barry Cash on Brave Inca, had given the winner an extra edge.

"I'm very fond of Barry, who is a great friend, but he wouldn't be one of the top five riders in Ireland and he's been replaced by one of the best jockeys we've ever seen," said Meade. "You'd have to say the change of jockey has improved the other horse.

"This run at least proved that Paul (Carberry) did nothing wrong at Cheltenham. I was probably at fault today, Paul wanted to wait but I said to go on a bit sooner."

GOOD START FOR CROWLEY

Frances Crowley, who runs Saoire in Sunday's UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, had a boost when landing the opening Flogas Ireland Handicap Chase with Monterey Bay.

"He just stays and stays, the trip suited, the ground is probably drying out and everything was right for him," said Crowley of the winner.

"Everything is A1 with Saoire, she'll leave tomorrow morning then settle in overnight and there's nothing more I can do. She likes fast ground so that should be perfect for her."

Well Tutored, trained by Arthur Moore and ridden by his son J D, came home 15 lengths clear in the DNG Nationwide Chase For The Ladies Perpetual Cup over Punchestown's banks course.

"My mother is now the proud grandmother of four winning riders at this week's Festival - J D as well as Philip, Paul and Nina (Carberry)," said the winning trainer. "The horse has taken to this really well, we only started schooling him 10 days ago."

Pay It Forward came home two lengths in front of the Scottish National winner Joes Edge to land a valuable prize in the EUR100,000 betfair.com Novice Handicap Chase under Robert Power.

Trainer Jessica Harrington could send the winner on to the Galway Plate or a summer jumping race at Market Rasen.

"We fancied him because the ground was drying out," said Power. "And luckily for me Barry (Geraghty)'s a bit fat so he couldn't do 10st 5lb!"

AMAZING ASIAN

Asian Maze ran out an impressive five-length winner of the Grade One Menolly Homes Champion Novice hurdle, inspiring comparisons with the great Dawn Run from trainer Tom Mullins.

"She may never win a Gold Cup or Champion Hurdle but when she won today, at Liverpool and at Fairyhouse they were Dawn Run type performances. She's not as big as Dawn Run to look at, but shows us everything else," said Mullins, whose recently retired father Paddy trained the great mare, the only horse to win both the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

"She might go chasing next year - she might be a Stayers' Hurdle mare or we could maybe try her back over two miles over hurdles - we have a lot of options."

KING IS CROWNED AT PUNCHESTOWN
27/04/05

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking King was crowned a true champion on his home ground when effortlessly strolling home three lengths clear of Rule Supreme to land the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup on day two of the Irish National Hunt Festival.

The eight-year-old never looked in any danger and winning trainer Tom Taaffe said: "What he's done this year is pure class, there's no other way of describing it. He's done exactly what you'd expect a progressive Gold Cup horse would do and this epitomises what you'd dream about.

"He just gets more professional both mentally and physically and has a super attitude. He'd only done two and a half bits of work since Cheltenham and was so well at home beforehand that barring something silly I was expecting that sort of performance

"I was more nervous today than before any other day this year as everything had gone so well that I just wanted to get him back to go out to grass.

"I would hope that he gets a good break then possibly start off at Gowran Park again. We'll see what happens after that, I think there might be a couple of announcements in the next couple of weeks and we'll see what carrots are dangled at us."

Winning rider Barry Geraghty added: "The worry today was how fast they were going to go early on but the quicker they went the easier he settled.

"He absolutely winged three out and went away with me at the last. He's got so much class you don't have to ask him to do anything. I just hope he's as good next season as this"

Rule Supreme could make a quick reappearance at Punchestown tomorrow in the Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle.

Trainer Willie Mullins said: "He jumped as well as ever and I was delighted with him. He might go for the French Champion Hurdle again and I'll see how he is in the morning before deciding whether he runs tomorrow - it's a big prize."

LISS RETIRED

Kicking King's rider Barry Geraghty completed a quick double when going on to take the S M Morris Ltd Handicap Chase aboard Jasmin D'Oudaires for trainer Willie Mullins.

Blazing Liss is likely to have run her last race after landing the Bewleys Hotels Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle.

"She was covered by Flemensfirth a couple of weeks ago and if she is in foal that will have been her last race. If not we'll have to make other plans," said trainer John Kiely.

Philip Carberry, whose brother Paul and sister Nina both rode winners on Tuesday, got his name on the Festival scoresheet when partnering Stutter to win the Blue Square Handicap Hurdle.

"My lad got the gap at the right time," said Carberry. "I just hoped he'd be able to wing the last and get there but he did it a lot easier than I thought."

Trainer John Carr added: "Today was the plan, he had a run on the Flat as a prep for this, and I should think the handicapper will put him up a bit. But we might give the Galway Hurdle a go if he gets in on a reasonable weight."

Wexford trainer John Codd landed the opening AON Group/Sean Barrett Bloodstock Insurances Hurdle with Strides Of Fire, a half-brother to top two-year-old filly Queen's Logic.

Moscow's Colours Lowered In Dramatic Finish
26/04/05

A far from foot perfect Moscow Flyer finally lost his unbeaten record when completing over fences after going down by a short-head to Rathgar Beau in a dramatic finish to the Grade 1 Kerrygold Champion Chase.

Many felt a dead-heat would be called after it took the judge more than 10 minutes to split the pair and Dusty Sheehy, Rathgar Beau's trainer, would have been happy to share first prize.

"Watching the replays I thought he was beaten and would have happily settled for a dead-heat," admitted Sheehy, who was landing a first Grade 1 victory.

"I'm delighted for the horse because he's been chasing Moscow Flyer all his life and the luck has finally gone his way this time. I always felt we'd be second today if he was back to his best and that we could maybe rattle Moscow if something like today's race happened.

"He's off out to grass tomorrow and he'll probably start off at Navan as normal next season but maybe not go for the Daily Telegraph Trophy over 2m 5f at Cheltenham again. Shay (Barry) wanted to go for the Queen Mother this year and he was probably right."

Trainer Jessica Harrington was philosophical about Moscow Flyer's defeat and said: "You can't demolish the second last like that and win. Barry (Geraghty) says that he never runs well here and he was very keen but he was like that at Aintree. He was going to get beaten sometime and at least the horse is alright and coming home in one piece.

"Maybe I was being a little greedy going to Cheltenham, Aintree and here but at least we have still got the horse. Rathgar Beau was always going to be a threat so what's the point in being disappointed. I've no idea about next season, we'll get over this one first."

Passion Comes Good
Wild Passion justified 7/4 favouritism in the Grade 1 Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle to just hold off Kill Devil Hill in a photo-finish with trainer Noel Meade believing there could be better to come from the winner.

"I think there's probably a bit more in the locker, he's very relaxed about things," said the successful trainer Noel Meade. "He's just lazy and doesn't concentrate as much as he should and probably doesn't jump as well as he might because he's not concentrating. Even at Cheltenham last time, he was running around a bit."

The five-year-old is also in Friday's 2m 4f Grade 1 Menolly Homes Champion Novice Hurdle and Meade added: "We left him in Friday's race and he could well run - he stays very well. After that we'll possibly school him over fences and see how he gets on."

Cashmans quote Wild Passion at 10/1 for the 2006 Irish Independent Arkle Chase at Cheltenham.

Jockey Paul Carberry was maintaining a 100 per cent record at the 2005 Irish National Hunt Festival having also landed the opening Kildare Hunt Club Chase aboard Davids Lad.

Trainer Tony Martin is contemplating targets such as the Galway Plate and Pardubice in the Czech Republic for the winner and explained: "I got a bit of a fright when he slipped on the first bank but otherwise his jumping was good enough, he's always been a good lepper really. He just can't operate through bad old ground."

Sean Mulryan, whose Ballymore Properties company is a major sponsor at the Irish National Hunt Festival, saw his colours carried to victory by Forget The Past in the Grade 2 Ellier Developments Novice Chase, making up for an unlucky defeat last time out in the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.

"I thought he was unlucky and shouldn't have been beaten last time," said winning trainer Michael O'Brien. "He's a very good horse and a very good jumper but jockeys just need to learn not to touch his head. He doesn't like it when they try and go in short."