Get the rest of the news from Punchestown, where Tornado Flyer made a winning return to action on his debut over hurdles.
Tornado Flyer goes down a storm
Tornado Flyer (4/9 favourite) made a stylish winning start over timber for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh in the Punchestown Racecourse Of The Year Maiden Hurdle.
A smart bumper performer, winning the Grade One contest here having placed at Cheltenham, he was punted before the off and never looked in any danger.
Always travelling well under Walsh, if a little keenly, Tornado Flyer jumped big and bold throughout, clearing the last like an embryonic chaser, and it was clear afterwards that connections have high hopes for the five-year-old.
🗨️ "We think he's a really nice horse," Ruby Walsh tells @AtTheRaces after high-class bumper performer Tornado Flyer wins on hurdles debutpic.twitter.com/66H9jHzFct
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) December 9, 2018
"Ruby said he was very keen," said the Closutton handler..
"It was nice to get his maiden win. We'll look at Christmas and we'll look at the race at Naas (Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle) in January."
Sky Bet cut the winner to 12/1 from 16/1 for the Ballymore at next year's Cheltenham Festival.
"He could do no more than win today but it's clear Tornado Flyer has a bright future over hurdles," said Michael Shinners.
"In fact he may do even better over a fence one day, but for now he has to be towards the top of the market for the Ballymore with the intermediate distance seemingly thought best."
Double up for Blackmore
In the opening Join Our 2019 Members Club From Just 150 Rated Novice Hurdle, Due Reward caused a minor upset as evens favourite Ballyneety proved disappointing.
Henry de Bromhead's horse, sent off at 5/2, cleared away to win by nine lengths under Rachael Blackmore, who made it a double when Arctic Pearl got up late to win the Sherry Fitzgerald Lettings Handicap Hurdle.
Jake Peter had looked set to collect when taking up the running before the last, but he was reeled in by the gambled-on 8/1 chance inside the final half-furlong.
Getabird flies home
Getabird made a winning start to life over fences in the GAIN Supporting Laois GAA Beginners Chase, handing Walsh a treble after earlier victories for Tornado Flyer and Min, who took the feature John Durkan.
Having been disappointing at both Cheltenham and Punchestown in the spring, all eyes were on the odds-on favourite as he sought to justify what's always been a lofty reputation, and this time he made no mistake.
Returning to a right-handed track clearly helped, the left-handed configuration at Cheltenham having appeared not to suit, but in truth he jumped straight and true for most of this two-mile contest.
Briefly appearing like he had a race on his hands approaching the last, Getabird impressed most with what he did after that fence, powering clear to beat Articulum by seven-and-a-half lengths.
A brilliant chasing debut - Getabird kicks off his season with an impressive success at @punchestownrace: pic.twitter.com/Tg8OjS8Btn
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 9, 2018
"That was a good exhibition of jumping and he did it well. He likes this track," said Mullins, who was completing a hat-trick of his own on the card and six-timer on the day after three winners at Cork.
"He's better right-handed and Leopardstown is left-handed at Christmas. We might head towards Limerick for the new Grade One over two and a half miles.
"That race has been lucky enough for us over the years. I don't know if he wants that heavy type of ground that they might get in Limerick, but we'll have to take what we get.
"I'm easy enough about trip with him. It was the fact that this race was in Punchestown why I ran him here."
Sky Bet cut Getabird to 10/1 from 14/1 for the Racing Post Arkle, which puts him fourth in the market.
Shinners said: "Having disappointed when favourite for the Sky Bet Supreme, Getabird will have to prove that going left-handed isn't an issue for him.
"Perhaps we'll find out over Christmas and if he were to win at somewhere like Leopardstown, and do so well, he could well find himself back at the top of an antepost market."
And finally...
Se Mo Laoch showed a willing attitude to win the K Club Handicap Chase under Derek O'Connor, the 9/4 favourite gaining further reward for a lengthy run of consistent efforts.
Snugsborough Hall had looked set to collect as he cruised into the straight on the bridle, but his response was limited whereas O'Connor's mount answered his rider's every call.
The concluding bumper went to the in-form Joseph O'Brien team, whose Embittered (9/2) comfortably accounted for odds-on favourite Santana Plessis.
