Rest of card
THE La Touche Cup has a history of repeat winners and Busselton joined recent examples like Singing Banjo and Vital Island in making it back-to-back wins in the Mongey Communications-backed banks race.
Enda Bolger’s record in this unique contest is second to none, and he clearly took great satisfaction with providing Darragh O’Keeffe with a first victory around the cross country-style course. After eyeballing 14-year-old course regular Vital Island on the turn for home under a confident ride, the Friendship Partnership-owned nine-year-old pulled out just enough to beat a running-on Outside The Door by three-quarters of a length.
O’Keeffe said of the 7/2 winner: “I was spoiled with this horse around here. He had plenty of experience around the track for Joseph O’Brien before and I’m delighted to ride this winner for Enda. He’s been massive for my career and I started out with him. He’s an absolute genius with these horses.
“Busselton was dynamite today. As soon as he heard the other horses coming, he battled back again. This race has been the plan for a while. Enda told me a while back that he’d win the La Touche for me.”
Walsh’s fine work
In a week where he was desperately trying to erode Jack Kennedy’s lead in the jockeys’ championship, O’Keeffe kickstarted a treble on the day with Ted and Helen Walsh’s Adrienne in the Listed Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle.
It was a fine piece of training and placing from the local handler to pitch his four-year-old filly in against older rivals, and she didn’t let him down. The Kodi Bear home-bred (out of a War Command mare) put four and a half lengths between herself and Alliteration for a 15/2 success.
“You couldn’t put a price on a day like today at Punchestown - I’ve been coming here since I was nine or 10,” said Walsh.
“I thought this filly would run well. Quinta Do Lago, who won here yesterday, had been behind her on one or two occasions and the handicapper said the four-year-old form was holding up well. She might run in a flat race and possibly the Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel could be an option for her.”
Danny delivers
There was another boilover in the opening Specialist Group Novice Hurdle, when Danny Mullins surged clear in the closing stages on his uncle Willie’s Beauvallon at 28/1.
In a race where most of the leading contenders failed to live up to expectations, the Beauvallon Syndicate’s four-year-old, who won a much weaker race at Limerick a month earlier on his second start for the champion trainer, took a marked step forward.
He relished conditions in beating useful yardstick Immediate Effect by two and a half lengths.
“This horse is improving,” said Willie Mullins. “He wasn’t always in love with the game, but I think he’s better [jumping than he is on the flat]. We might go back on the flat again with him this summer, though.
“He’s going the right way and it’s a nice win for Patrick Wynn-Jones, who is the manager for Barnane Stud. Himself and a few pals have this horse. They brought him back from France to give a trial to and he’s trialling well at the moment!”
AFTER being out of luck with The Mourne Rambler in Grade 1 company a day earlier, Noel Meade went one better with the Cheltenham winner’s smart half-sister, Blue Mosque, in the Listed Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle - the mare sneaking through late on under a gutsy Donagh Meyler.
The High Spirits Racing Club’s six-year-old, bred by Christopher McKeever, didn’t go unbacked as 6/1 favourite and made amends for a second behind stablemate Fierce Handay at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.
Speaking after the half-length victory over The Big Clubman, Meade said: “We’ve rode her forward before, but Donagh felt she was better off ridden from behind last time and we did the same again. He felt she enjoys passing horses and those races are a great watch - when they get there!
“It’s an amazing family this horse comes from. Her breeder, Christopher McKeever, started off with a little mare who wasn’t much good, although she was probably unlucky not to win a race. Everything she’s bred has been incredibly lucky and he’s started a great family.”
Wonderful Walk
Meyler quickly made it a double on the day when the imposing Come Walk With Me (4/1 favourite) made light work of a 10lb higher mark than Easter in the Listed Frontline Security Handicap Chase for owner-breeder Eddie Cawley.
Open graded company might well be calling for the strapping Walk In The Park gelding after dishing out an eight-length beating to Jalila Moriviere here off a career-high mark of 136 - his second major handicap win of the spring.
“We had always hoped that he was a smart horse; he’s a seven-year-old and we had a few little niggly problems along the way,” said Cawley.
“I’m thrilled with that performance today. He had plenty of weight to carry and I felt it was a much better race than the last day. He’ll have his holidays now and we’ll put a plan in place for next year. We could maybe step him into a Grade 3 or Grade 2, whatever comes his way. Donagh felt we could have to step up with him.”
Mushy looks high class
We were served up a belter of a finish for the concluding JP & M Doyle Bumper and, with a wet sail from the wide outside, the Declan Queally-trained Adaboy Mushy maintained his unbeaten record under Barry Stone.
Carrying the colours of an elated group in O’Rourke Construction Ltd, the Blue Bresil four-year-old proved there was no fluke about what he achieved at Leopardstown on debut and looks a high-class hurdling prospect for next season.
Speaking after beating the eye-catching Bon Bon Fizz by half a length at 9/1, Declan Queally Jr said: “I considered riding him myself, but decided against it after looking at the weights and it paid dividends. He quickened well and has always shown a lot.
“We’ll leave him off now. It was even a bit of a gamble running here - I was very worried about keeping a four-year-old in this long - but he’s a big, strong boy and he has a turn of foot. He’s a nice horse for next year, a graded horse.”