Punchestown Festival results and replays

Teahupoo ran out a comfortable winner from Asterion Forlonge and Home By The Lee 12 months ago and those two were, again, in opposition but he was given most to do, arguably, by Winter Fog although Asterion Forlonge again finished second.

Asterion Forlonge, Winter Fog and Teahupoo made a line of three rounding the home turn as they left the remainder behind. Winter Fog then kept the favourite company to the last where a far better leap than his rival sealed victory.

Asterion Forlonge stuck to his guns against the rail, passing the weakening Winter Fog who, in turn, was also passed by the staying on Jetara. The winning margin was four and a quarter lengths.

Teahupoo provided Gordon Elliott with his first winner of the week, as it was for jockey Sam Ewing who said: "I travelled deadly everywhere, jumped deadly and just got out at the right time and I knew he'd stay at it.

"I was always happy with my possy [position] and kind of got shuffled towards the inner when they got racing so I took back as I wanted a smooth run at things. I got my gap going to the second last, I just kicked on with him. It all went fairly smooth.

"He's just a great stayer and brilliant to win on him. He's probably unlucky to be beaten twice this year but he's really stamping his authority as a top stayer. I've had the season of dreams, so lucky to be in the position I'm in because Jack [Kennedy] is obviously out but it's brilliant to be able to ride big winners like this."

A relieved Elliott added: "He's a great horse, he's done not much wrong this year, but I think three miles is really the key to him. He's probably not getting any faster as he's getting older but he's very honest and very tough.

"We're just not getting the bounce of the ball for the last month or six weeks and I was nervous the whole way through the race. I suppose I was more happy with the way he was jumping, the way he was attacking his hurdles, he was really letting go at them today so I was happy but nervous the whole way.

"He's never going to win by anymore than what he does but he's a very good horse. To be honest he's probably like Sire Du Berlais, he doesn't do anything fancy at home but he just knows how to win and, probably, the last quarter is the best of him."

Exciting Majborough a cut above

Majborough (4/11 favourite) provided Willie Mullins with a tenth successive success in the Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase.

Majborough ran a remarkable race in the Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham, rallying to finish a close third after a bad blunder; he wasn't foot-perfect at his fences here but outclassed his rivals.

Majborough jumped his way to the front at the third and there he stayed, winning by 14 lengths from Arkle second Only By Night who won a close race for second from Jessie Evans and Brookie.

Winning rider Mark Walsh said: "It [his jumping] was good but he always jumps left but that's the worst he's ever gone left today. Obviously a left-handed track would suit him much better but everyone knows he's a massive engine.

"He jumped way better today. He's such a big stride he covers so much ground it's hard for the other horses to keep up with him. He's a lovely horse going forward.

"Harry [Cobden, rider of Rubaud] said he was going to go a gallop and he did. I jumped the first - winged the first - and he spotted the second and just took me down to it and winged it and landed in front and when he gets to the front he just pricks his ears and uses his big stride."

Mullins added: "I thought he jumped very well, he goes a bit to his left but that's his quirk. I won't mind that and he measures his fences and didn't make any real mistakes today.

"Mark wasn't hard on him over the last two, I thought just getting from A to B and he did that alright. Considering his age and how much he can mature over the next few years, he could be a real, top-class chaser in time. He's got such a stride and when he's long at a fence he can just take it in his stride, to me that's a huge asset; he has huge scope.

"Cheltenham going left-handed should have suited him better but he made that little mistake at the ditch and it probably unsettled him but today there was none of that, Mark said when he got to the front he was really enjoying himself."

When asked by Fran Berry (on Racing TV) whether he would be trained for the Champion Chase next season, Mullins replied: "That would look the plan at the moment but if his jumping gets a bit more left-going against open horses then maybe we'll go out in trip. Could be a Ryanair horse, you wouldn't know."

Rest of the action: wins for Bowens, Henderson, King & Slevin / O'Brien double

Sean Bowen gave another fine advertisement of his skills when partnering Poundinthejar (17/2) to victory in the opening Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle for trainer Tony Martin.

Racing in the first half of the midfield on the inside, Bowen waited while others went for home before moving his mount off the rail on the final bend and going in pursuit of the runaway leader, overhauling 50/1 chance Battle Of Ridgeway in the final strides to win by half a length.

Martin told irishracing.com: “On the bend turning in I thought we’d sit and suffer and take our chances, but the jockey knew better and it all worked out. I’d hope that he’ll make a chaser in time. He’s a typical Walk In The Park who can be on edge until he gets cantering and then he’s very straightforward."

Bowen added: “He did well to win as he didn’t jump well at all. He got into a rhythm from halfway and did well to pick up the leader. I had a good clear run down to the last. He winged the last and picked up well from the back of it. It’s good ground and he enjoyed that. He will have learned loads today."

Mirazur West, the 3/1 favourite, and The Folkes Tiara appeared to set off like scalded cats in the Frontline Security Handicap Chase and it proved too much for the latter who was eventually pulled-up.

Mirazur West was only headed going to the last where Don't Go Yet took over but he was overtaken in the final 50 yards or so by Petit Tonnerre (16/1) who finished strongly to win by two and a quarter lengths.

Winning trainers Jonjo and AJ O'Neill spoke to Racing TV, saying: "He ran a lovely race. Richie [McLernon] gave him a great ride and it's lovely to see him get his head in front again.

"He needs a good gallop, he got that today, nice ground and everything went right. He never missed a beat really, so always hopeful from the second last, it took a while but he got there."

JJ Slevin saluted the stands after winning the Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase aboard Busselton (7/1).

"I've been watching these races for as long as I can remember and it's one that I've always wanted to win," he explained.

Busselton raced in second but was left in front after Vanillier unshipped Keith Donoghue. There were half a dozen in contention heading to the final two fences and Desertmore House threw down a strong challenge at the last but Busselton was away more quickly and Slevin had waited until landing before asking for his effort.

Busselton responded well and won by three parts of a length and a neck with Three By Two finishing off well, having been short of room, for third.

"He's plenty of mileage but he's been a great servant and it's just a class race to win," he continued.

"Joseph [O'Brien, trainer] was keen to get him out and get him rolling and get him competitive, he enjoyed the jumping and when Keith went I was able to sit against him in front. Nice ground is the key to him."

Slevin and O'Brien completed a double when Cottesloe Sunshine (33/1) upset the odds in the Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle.

Racing prominently in the steadily run affair, punters could have been forgiven for thinking it was a case of when Sixandahalf would quicken past her but the 8/13 favourite found less than expected as Cottesloe Sunshine quickened from the front and was passed for second by Mozzie's Sister.

"Joseph fancied her, she's been trained for the race, she was really fresh and she's done it well," said Slevin.

"She got into a lovely rhythm and I was able to sit against her where I was, keep a hold of her, then let her slingshot off the bend and away she went, she was good. She's won easy enough."

Jeriko Du Reponet (13/2 joint-favourite) reversed Cheltenham Festival form with stablemate Doddiethegreat in the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle, filling the first two places as they had in the Pertemps Final.

There were four in line at the last but the resurgent Jeriko Du Reponet showed a good turn of foot under James Bowen to win going away. One Big Bang completed a 1-2-3 for the British raiders with Karl Des Tourelles the first home of the home team, one spot ahead of Beat The Bat.

It was a first winner in Ireland for Bowen ahead of his ride on Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle on Friday. He said: "He travelled well, I was where I wanted to be - probably a bit wide - but I'd rather a horse be on my inside than my outside.

"He was a nice novice and chasing he didn't really get to grips with the first time but I don't see why he wouldn't jump a fence."

Nicky Henderson confirmed that Jeriko Du Reponet would have another crack at chasing, saying: "It all went wrong art the beginning of the season, he was meant to go chasing and we thought he was going to be the star but he was terrible at Sandown and we had to go back over hurdles.

"We stayed there and the Pertemps became the objective and he didn't quite win but he's got his consolation. But we must go back over fences next year and get the job done properly. He'll be alright, it will happen."

And on completing a one-two at Punchestown, he added: "I felt sorry for one that day [Cheltenham] and now I feel sorry for the other one but it happens. They've crept to the top of this handicap and they're giving loads of weight away, got to be delighted with both of them; two divisions, that would have helped!"

There was another one-two for the British challengers when Baron Noir (12/1) led home El Cairos in the JP & M Doyle (C & G) INH Flat Race.

It looked as though owner/rider David Maxwell was going to take the spoils on El Cairos but he drifted left-handed as Rob James got serious with the Alan King-trained Baron Noir who responded well to win by a length and a half with the pair pulling six lengths clear of their nearest pursuer.

More from Sporting Life

• Racecards
• Fast results
• Free bets
• Full results and free video replays
• Horse racing news
• Horse racing tips
• Horse racing features
• Download our free iOS and Android app
• Football and other sports tips
• Podcasts and video content

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.