PUNCHESTOWN’s weekend meeting almost rivalled Cheltenham’s for intrigue and quality, at least in some areas, with three graded races and a listed contest plus some important supporting events.

The main event – the Morgiana Hurdle on Sunday – was weakened significantly by the late defections of Samcro and Supasundae, meaning that just four runners faced the starter.

In the end it resulted in a one-two for Rich Ricci-owned horses, but in the opposite order to that anticipated by the betting.

If anyone is confident of exactly what Sharjah achieved in beating the odds-on Faugheen by seven and a half lengths, with the other two toiling, then they are probably kidding themselves. But time analysis does at least suggest it could have been plenty.

The Morgiana was run in a time a whopping 11.8s (nearly a furlong) quicker than the admittedly steadily-run handicap hurdle won by Hearts Are Trumps earlier on the card, and even a comparison with the concluding bumper won in much the same time by Malone Road (without seven flights to negotiate) is quite favourable.

I have a 156 timefigure on Sharjah for this (146 on Faugheen), but that is very likely a minimum. Sharjah had been beaten by both Samcro and Bedrock at Down Royal the time before, of course.

That makes for a 120 timefigure on Malone Road (after allowing for the absence of hurdles), which has him the best bumper performer seen so far by 1lb over his stable-companion Column Of Fire.

The other graded race on Sunday – the Florida Pearl Novice Chase – went to Some Neck narrowly from Blow By Blow, with both geldings posting useful-but-not-exceptional 141 timefigures. The overall time was 2.3s quicker than the earlier handicap won by Mighty Stowaway (128 timefigure), which is about what might be expected, though all of that difference and a bit more besides came late on.

SOLID PERFORMANCE

The previous day’s graded race at Punchestown – the Craddockstown Novice Chase – went to Voix Du Reve with a solid 147 timefigure performance, which is as good as any novice chaser has managed so far this season (though that is sure to change in coming months).

The six-year-old had plenty of form at two and a half miles over hurdles (and was even tried at three), and making plenty of use of him at the minimum trip like this could well be wise.

Those were also the tactics employed successfully on Stormy Ireland in the Listed Grabel Mares Hurdle, though sectionals confirm that Ruby Walsh on the winner kept something in reserve before kicking on again. Nonetheless, Stormy Ireland’s 143 timefigure represents a new personal best for a likeable sort who should continue to go well at this sort of level.

Commander Of Fleet was operating at an altogether lower level for his hurdling debut in a maiden earlier on the card, but that may soon change for a gelding who beat the aforementioned Column Of Fire easily in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown on his only previous racecourse appearance (also won a point).

In time terms, there was nothing all that special about a 124-timefigure victory from Commander Of Fleet, but he was limited by what was up against him and looked good until inexperience came into play when in front. Plenty of improvement on this seems most likely.

Away from the big two meetings, there were noteworthy wins for Maria’s Benefit in a Listed Mares’ Novices’ Chase at Bangor-On-Dee (140 timefigure), Kemboy in the Clonmel Oil Chase and Camelia De Cotte in the Listed Mares Chase, also at Clonmel.

Kemboy took some notable scalps in his race but was slightly slower than Camelia De Cotte overall, albeit carrying 8lbs more, meaning that the pair’s timefigures are 135 (when more could be expected) and 134 respectively.