Punchestown review: Harrington and Power win again

Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power teamed up for more success with Bobabout in the JLT Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown.

Fresh from their win in the feature Punchestown Gold Cup with Sizing John and with the Irish National victory of Our Duke still fresh in the mind, this came at a lower level.

The winner faced a wall of horses turning into the straight, but picked up well to claim Runyon Rattler in a photo finish to reward Harrington's growing army of followers at 8/1.

Neil Mulholland's Pinkie Brown ran well to finish third. The winner had undergone an unusual prep having only run on the Flat at Navan on Sunday.

"That's just one of those races when you know that things are going your way," said Power.

"I was brought to a standstill at the fourth-last and I actually considered pulling up, I thought I had no chance.

"I thought I'd hack home, creep around the inside and the more I passed the more he came alive until going to the last I thought I would win.

"Taking the hood off today has made a difference.

"Jessie's horses are in flying form, all credit to her team."

Harrington said: "These distances are getting shorter and shorter. We went from a head to a short-head yesterday to a nose today. It's not good for the nerves.

"That was the most amazing run because he was virtually brought down at the fourth-last and Robert said it crossed his mind to pull him up.

"He loved that ground and today was the first day he really jumped. During the winter he couldn't jump off the heavy ground.

"He had a little blow out on Sunday on the Flat. Again he was very keen on Sunday. He's probably better when they go a really good gallop and he does settle. He'll learn to settle in time." 

Harrington struck again when Don't Touch It reversed form with Hurricane Ben in the pigsback.com Nick Coen Memorial Handicap Chase.

Don't Touch It had finished eight lengths behind Hurricane Ben at Fairyhouse yet was 8lb better off this time and cruised to the front at the second last.

Hurricane Ben attempted to make all but was a sitting duck as Mark Walsh sent the 5-1 chance into the lead, although Caolaneoin and Neverushacon, a stablemate of the winner, made him pull out all the stops.

"I was there a mile too soon. Even with the cheekpieces he was still having a look at the crowd and pricked his ears," said Walsh.

"Luckily the others challenged me in plenty of time and he stuck his head down.

"Mrs Harrington's horses are in flying form and it's a joy to ride them.

"He won a Grade One here last year and good ground is a big help to him."

Harrington said: "The horses are just in good form. They just all seem to be coming together at the right time.

"I thought he was unlucky in Fairyhouse, he just couldn't quite get to him. He's got a lot of class, but he's definitely a bit of a Scorpion. Mark said he nearly got him beaten by going to the front too soon.

"He just cruised there but when he gets to the front he thinks it's great fun and 'I'm here why should I go any quicker'.

"I put cheekpieces on for the first time as Barry (Geraghty) said at Fairyhouse to put them on him."

She added: "I have a great team behind me and I'm very lucky to have them.

"We've got up to a bit of a high peak. The only way is down and it's usually very quickly down!"

Treo Eile, second in the opening race of the meeting on Tuesday, caused an upset in the La Touche Cup when touching off Cantlow.

Trained by Shay Slevin and ridden by weighing-room veteran Barry Cash, the 10/1 chance beat Enda Bolger's odds-on favourite by a head.

The race changed in complexion just before the runners joined the racecourse proper when Mtada Supreme, who was still travelling well, went through the wing of a hurdle.

First Lieutenant briefly threatened to play a hand in the finish but he faded away into third.

"In all fairness to Shay they weren't going to run him but he said they might as well as they'd get more money here just by getting placed than winning a point-to-point," said Cash.

"I've ridden for Shay for 20-odd years so I owe him that.

"That's the last time you'll see me here. I'm not retiring today, but it's the last festival you'll see me at."

Slevin said: "I thought we were running for place money. I'm delighted and couldn't believe it. I thought the ground was too quick as well, but I was wrong.

"I worked with Barry in Aidan O'Brien's, it must be 25 years ago. You can't beat experience. You need experience out there as there is a lot of jumping and twisting and turning."

It was announced after the race that First Lieutenant, now a 12-year-old and ridden on this occasion by JJ Slevin, son of the winning trainer, was to be retired.

A three-time Grade One winner for Mouse Morris, he went close in many other top-level events and was twice second at the Cheltenham Festival, in the Ryanair Chase and RSA Chase.

Minella Awards provided Noel Fehily and Harry Fry with a Punchestown double in the Shamrock Enterprises Handicap Hurdle.

Just half an hour after Unowhatimeanharry gave the pair a Grade One win, Minella Awards came with a late run to deny Philip Hobbs' No Comment in a finish dominated by the British raiders.

No Comment had beaten Minella Awards at Plumpton in January, but when it mattered most the Fry runner was once again primed to run for his life.

Having performed well at Cheltenham and Aintree No Comment finally looked like getting a big win but Minella Awards, winner of the EBF Final at Sandown last time out, quickened up better.

The pair were sent off 7/1 joint-favourites and were separated by a length. Willie Mullins' Screaming Rose picked up place money in third.

Fehily said: "I had a lovely spin around, I just missed the carnage early and after that it was straightforward.

"I've said it before, but what a trainer Harry Fry is at producing them on the big day.

"When this fella was beaten by the second at Plumpton he kept telling he wasn't right and that in the spring he would improve - he was right.

"Fry said: "This makes up for yesterday when Drumcliff was brought down early.

"Today has been a different story and what a 40 minutes.

"We just felt this lad would come to himself in the spring and I'm pleased for his owners, who are very patient.

"Noel was brilliant again, he's a huge part of our success." 

Ruby Walsh opened his account for the week in the Alanna Homes Mares Novice Hurdle as Asthuria led home a one-two-three for Willie Mullins.

Running in the famous Hurricane Fly colours, Asthuria made all the running to justify 13/8 favouritism.

Pravalaguna and Good Thyne Tara chased home their stablemate but there was only ever one horse in it.

After finishing second in five Grade Ones already this week, Walsh was just relieved to get one on the board.

"I said to the lads beforehand 'there's a good chance she'll finish second' given the week I'd been having," said Walsh.

"We always thought she was a good mare. She went a good gallop and jumped brilliant, she was a bit tired at the last and clipped the top and I was thinking she might topple over, but she stood up and kept going.

"I've just been hitting the crossbar every time. Un De Sceaux ran a blinder, Melon ran a blinder, although I wouldn't mind another go on him to do it tactically different but you have to ride each race as it is.

"Penhill ran well, Djakadam ran his heart out and just missed the last and Nichols Canyon was in front two strides after the last.

"They're just the bit of luck this team needs in the big pots but we're within shooting distance."

Of the title battle between Mullins and Gordon Elliott, Walsh said: "We're clawing our way back. It's just typical of our season that we needed Nichols (Canyon) or Djakadam, one of those huge pots.

"Gordon has set some pace, he'll probably get it (title) off us but we're not going to give it to him."

Mullins said: "We've been hitting the crossbar, but one or two are starting to go in now so we'll keep our fingers crossed.

"She gave us a heart attack at the last because she has a habit of lying down, jumping.

"Pravalaguna ran a cracker and I think she's a mare that's going to improve, while it was just Good Thyne Tara's third run over hurdles. I think we have three nice mares for next season.

"Ruby was keen for Asthuria to go over fences, but we'll see what happens. We've a nice bunch of mares and we'll try and find different targets for them.

"Let's Dance will probably stay over hurdles and they are all aiming for that's mares' hurdle at Cheltenham so maybe one or two will go jumping fences then.

"France is a thought for some of them, but we'll see, They've probably had hard enough seasons.

"I'll wait until the dust dies down after Punchestown before I make any decisions, but I'll probably have a smaller team going to France than before this season."

Neil Mulholland was another British-based trainer to taste success as Dead Right ran out an impressive winner of the Kildare Post (C & G) Flat Race.

The victory was more noteworthy as a first notable success for Jonjo O'Neill jnr, son of the famous former jockey and now trainer of the same name.

Riding in the green and gold of JP McManus, Dead Right, who ran over hurdles last time out, the 8/1 chance stayed on powerfully to beat Mullins' Next Destination by four and a half lengths and give McManus a fourth winner on the card.

"I have to say thanks very much to the McManus family and Neil Mulholland for putting me up," said O'Neill.

"It's easy to beat the better amateurs when you have the horse and I certainly had that.

"I had two rides here on Tuesday and that's it so it's brilliant to get a winner here.

"I hope to turn professional, I'm heading to France to get some more experience in the summer."