The Nicky Henderson-trained Punjabi dominated the penultimate session of the Punchestown festival last Friday by winning the featured ACC Bank Champion Hurdle.
Punjabi took up the running after the second last to beat last year’s Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity by three lengths in the hands of Barry Geraghty. The Tom Mullins-trained Bob Lingo meanwhile showed all the correct qualities by winning the closing bumper under his trainer’s talented teenage nephew Emmet Mullins and it was Paul Roche’s Carrolls Cross that actually finished second in this closing contest.
On Saturday, Liam Burke’s former point-to-pointer Oscar Rebel won her second Grade 3 race over flights by destroying the opposition with Davy Russell in the Bewleys Hotels Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Mares’ Hurdle.
Oscar Rebel ultimately came home with four lengths to spare over Serpentaria. Russell went on to complete a 34/1 double by joining forces with Sabrina Harty to collect the Grade 1 Eventus Marquees Champion 4YO Hurdle with Won In The Dark, who also finished third in the Triumph Hurdle at last month’s Cheltenham festival.
Leonard Whitemore’s Brave Right, a son of former Kilbarry Lodge Stud stallion Right Win, caused a 16/1 upset by landing the €220,000 Ballymore 25th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle in the hands of talented three lb claimer Sean Flanagan.
Comadoir
On Thursday, there’s a planned seven-race mixed card scheduled for Tipperary. Jim Bolger has his string in cracking order at present and he’s likely to collect the opening Modigliani European Breeders Fund Maiden for two-year-olds’ with Comadoir.
A son of Medecis, Comadoir has finished second on his two starts this season and on his most recent effort, the colt posted a particularly pleasing effort when beaten a half-length into second spot by Kevin Prendergast’s Playdate in a maiden over this same course and five-furlong distance on April 10th.
A reproduction of that display should clearly see Comadoir coming out on top here at the expense of Pressed For Time.
Zemsky stands out in the Glenview and Rathbarry Studs Hunters Chase. The Ian Ferguson-trained five-year-old has won his two most recent starts in point-to-points and this son of Denman’s sire Presenting never even remotely came off the bridle when disposing of The Grey Lord by one-length in a winners race at the Loughbrickland point-to-point fixture in Co Down on April 12th. Zemsky is clearly a speedy sort and he’s likely excel from Twice The Craic.
Blue Supreme looks the part in the closing p2p.ie Mares Point-To-Point INH Flat Race. The diminutive Blue Supreme has already won two point-to-points for Denis Ahern and she was particularly impressive when winning the coveted Gain Mares Final with Corky Carroll on her most recent start at Ballynoe in early April. Blue Supreme possesses more than adequate pace and she’s likely to see off Lightening Sky.
Killer Looks could make a triumphant return for trainer Eddie Lynam by eclipsing Soap Wars in the Enjoy An Evening At Tipperary Races Handicap whilst Portofino Bay and Keyala are a likely pair in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden.
Austin Leahy’s Aseasyas should atone for two recent placed efforts by proving marginally superior to Five Satins in the ‘Enjoy The Action At Tipperary As A Member’ Handicap.
Carrigeen King meanwhile could prove capable of causing a mild upset at the expense of Moore’s Law in the Glenview and Rathbarry Studs (C & G) (Pro/Am) Beginners Chase.