Fayonagh strengthened Gordon Elliot’s grip on the trainers' championship when running out a stylish winner of the Racing Post Champion I.N.H. Flat Race at Punchestown on Wednesday.
Racing Post Champion I.N.H. Flat Race
Race Result
1st Fayonagh (11/8 fav)
2nd Paloma Blue (12/1)
3rd Poli Roi (9/2)
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Race Report
Fayonagh strengthened Gordon Elliot’s grip on the Irish trainers' championship when running out a stylish winner of the Racing Post Champion I.N.H. Flat Race at Punchestown.
The well-backed 11/8 favourite made all under jockey Jamie Codd, who also increased his lead in the amateur jockeys' title, quickening impressively in the home straight to score by five-and-a-half lengths and follow up her Champion Bumper success at the Cheltenham Festival.
Henry De Bromhead’s Paloma Blue finished a clear second, seven lengths in front of the highly-regarded Poli Roi back in third.
Sky Bet cut the winner to 10/1 from 14/1 for next year’s Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and 7/2 from 5/1 for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle.
Reaction
Codd said: "They say when you have a good mare, you should keep hold of her.
"She's a real gem. She likes to do her own thing and I'm just delighted to be part of the whole thing.
"It's special."
Elliott said: "She's a buzzy little thing at home, and we don't gallop her much.
"She does all her work at home. I'd expect she will be put away now.
"The plan was to ride her in the first two or three at Cheltenham but she just missed the start. There was not much we could do, it was just one of those things.
"She'll have a nice holiday and go jumping next year."
