Punchestown Saturday review
A review of the action from Punchestown on Saturday as Willie Mullins unleashed a nice novice chaser.
Voix la!
Voix Du Reve put up a solid front-running performance to take the Grade Two spoils in the Betway Craddockstown Novice Chase at Punchestown.
The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old showed he had learned plenty from his successful debut over the larger obstacles at Galway last month with a polished display.
Paul Townend allowed Voix Du Reve (6/4 favourite) to bowl along at the head of affairs and he kept enough in the tank to hold Hardline by seven lengths. Cadmium, the winner's stablemate, was third.
"I'm very pleased with him," said Mullins.
"He probably wasn't as sharp as he was in Galway. Paul just thought the bigger fences and bigger track just made a difference. It just takes a bit more jumping around here than Galway. I'll try to keep him to that kind of trip."
Looking to future plans, Mullins said: "I'd imagine we'll go for something at Christmas. We'll keep him to the minimum trip and we may look at the Racing Post Novice Chase (at Leopardstown). I don't know if he's good enough to do that.
"I don't think there is anything in Limerick and we'd like to keep him on better ground."
No mistake as Stormy strikes
Mullins recorded a big-race double on the card with the victory of Stormy Ireland in the Listed Frontline Security Grabel Mares Hurdle.
The four-year-old enjoyed herself at the head of affairs in the hands of Ruby Walsh, striding clear on the run to the last flight.
Jumping that with the minimum of fuss, the 5/4 favourite came home eight and a half lengths clear of stablemate Good Thyne Tara, with another Closutton runner, Ria D'Etel, in third.
Mullins said: "She seems to have improved hugely from last season. The summer break has done her good.
"She had a few very hard races last season. I thought she looked much stronger and looked a little tubby, I thought, in the parade ring beforehand.
"Being able to do that, while looking like that, I think she'll improve.
"Ruby changed the bit on her before the race and put a kinder bit on her. She accepted it better.
"We'll try to plan for the future now. I'm trying to figure out what kind of a race we'll go for now as she's only four.
"We might look for a four-year-old race rather than take on the older horses. I'd imagine we'll keep her to mares' races."
He added of the placed horses: "Good Thyne Tara ran her race and probably wants a longer trip at this stage of her career.
"We were very pleased with Ria D'Etel. We'll look for a race for her and she wants a longer trip as well."
Elliott in command
Commander Of Fleet justified his prohibitive odds in comfortable style to make a winning debut over the smaller obstacles in the Kildare Now Maiden Hurdle.
Winner of the Goffs Land Rover Bumper at the Punchestown Festival in April, the 1/5 shot took to hurdles like an old hand.
Davy Russell was happy to sit close to the pace set by Kalum River, and the pair had the race between them throughout the extended two-and-a-half-mile contest.
Commander Of Fleet was going the better of the two turning for home and the Gordon Elliott-trained four-year-old forged clear in the closing stages to beat Kalum River by six lengths.
Castle Oliver was 13 lengths away in third place.
"That was great and a lovely start," said Russell of the Gigginstown House Stud-owned four-year-old.
"He's childish in his ways and these are only just steps along the way. Where he'll end up, God only knows, but he's a nice horse today anyway. It was ideal as we went a reasonable gallop and he picked up well off it."
Regarding trip, Russell added: "He's versatile, I'd say. Obviously connections have other horses to be thinking of, too. It's great to have the choice with him."
It was a double on the card for Elliott following the victory of Ben Dundee.
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