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| Punchestown National Hunt Festival 2006 |
Macs Joy for Jessica Harrington
28/04/06
Macs Joy, who was beaten a length by Brave Inca in last month's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, turned the tables on his old rival under an enterprising ride from Barry Geraghty when landing the Grade 1 ACC Bank Champion Hurdle by four lengths.
Geraghty kicked for home after three out and trainer Jessica Harrington felt the new tactic helped her charge.
"We got him at last!" said Harrington. "I don't know whether it was the ground for Brave Inca or that they didn't go quick enough which suited us but Barry had said beforehand that he was going to take them on at the second last. I think it paid off that he went on much earlier than ever before.
"He's been thereabouts all year and really deserved it and it's nice to win here although we'll have to try again at Cheltenham next year. It won't be easy, we'll have Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace to beat again, and maybe he's a better horse here.
"If he'd only been third or fourth at Cheltenham we would have probably sent him chasing but he ran the race of his life there when he was second so he'll carry on hurdling - he's entitled to another go at Cheltenham. He came here a fresh horse today and did what I hoped he would do. He jumped brilliantly and loved the ground."
Geraghty added: "We got there at the third last far earlier than the others and myself anticipated. It was a good a run from the runner-up in the Champion Hurdle as we've seen for a while but my horse deserved it - he's been knocking on the door."
Colm Murphy, trainer of Brave Inca, said: "Tony (McCoy) said he was never travelling but he was staying on towards the finish and all credit to Macs Joy. He'll go out to grass now and without a doubt the Champion Hurdle will be the aim again next year - a stiff two miles is what he wanted."
A barren week for the British visitors came to an end when Olney Lad, trained in Buckinghamshire by Renee Robeson, sprang a 25/1 surprise in the betfair.com Novice Handicap Chase.
"I was worried by the ground beforehand but in a funny way he actually did it better today," said Robeson when interviewed by her godson Robert Hall on RTE television. "Everything went well except for one dickie moment and he let me down at Aintree without the blinkers so they were back on today."
Howaya Pet, winner of the Ellen Construction Conyngham Cup, could have
run her last run. "She's in foal to Beneficial and probably finished
now. She'll be a valuable broodmare" said trainer Gerry Keane.
CHASING NEXT FOR IMPRESSIVE NICANOR
Last month's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle hero Nicanor rewarded backers who had supported him into 9/10 favouritism with a one-length triumph in the Grade 1 Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa Champion Novice Hurdle.
The winner earned a 14/1 quote from Cashmans for next year's Irish Independent Arkle Chase and trainer Noel Meade admitted he is considering the shorter Cheltenham race as a more likely target than the Royal & SunAlliance Chase in March.
"Ruby said that if he had just sat there he would never have gone off the bridle," said Meade. "He said the horse gave him a fantastic feel. I was worried about the ground because you can't take chances with a horse like this.
"Chasing has been the plan all along and I've always viewed him as a Gold Cup horse one day. We'd always thought the Royal & SunAlliance Chase would be his target but now maybe I 'm thinking he might be more of an Arkle horse because he showed a lot of speed."
Tony McCoy gained his first success of the week when Kinger Rocks, trained by Dermot Weld, captured the Flogas Ireland Novice Hurdle.
"She jumped well, travelled well and there was a good even pace," said McCoy. "She's a mare to look forward to and she should win plenty more."
