SWITCH From Diesel was the star of the show at Punchestown on Wednesday as she opened her hurdling account.

The daughter of Yeats, runner-up in the Grade 1 Bumper at the festival meeting in 2025, had failed to strike over timber last season and ticked that box in fine style, in the Ladbrokes Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Keith Donoghue was soon in front on the even-money shot and she had her rivals at work turning for home. Paul Mullins’ charge galloped on strongly from the last to record a cosy six-length success over Salsinha.

Trainer Ross O’Sullivan said afterwards: “Naturally, we thought we’d have had it done earlier in the year, but there were definitely plenty of excuses for her. This race stood out, a mares maiden hurdle two weeks after the festival on the main track.

“She’s a good filly and Keith was impressed with her. She’s uncomplicated and can do that, going on in front. We’ll see what Paul wants to do and we can pick our tracks for the summer. She also has a nice mark on the flat.”

Doubling up

O’Sullivan went on to double up with another short-priced favourite, Spanish Maid, in the second division of the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle over two miles. The 4/5 shot travelled well into contention going to the last but had to dig deep, for Michael Kenneally, on the run-in to see off the challenge of Marian Avenue by a neck.

It was a follow-up win for Rory Larkin’s mare after a chase success at Tramore last month and O’Sullivan said: “That was lovely. When I saw the price she was, I said ‘this is crazy’. She just had a nice workable mark, she is definitely a better filly over fences than she is over hurdles. We can pick our tracks and run her with a little bit of ease in the ground, maybe back over fences again.”

The first division of that race was won in fine style by Whispering Willow, on her first outing for Gavin Cromwell. The Marcel mare came with a strong surge, under Conor Stone-Walsh, to lead after the last and record a five-and-a-half-length success over Chesterbaylad.

Cromwell’s race planner, Troy Cullen said afterwards: “When she came, Daragh (O’Driscoll, owner) said that she was a grand filly and just that things hadn’t gone right for her. We were hopeful that she would run well. I’m delighted for them. Hopefully the handicapper won’t put her up too much and she’ll stay in that grade.”

FRESH back from his trip to America, Gordon Elliott was on hand to welcome back a couple of winners. Porcupine Bank got him off to the perfect start when beating hotpot Noemie De La Vis in the opening Ladbrokes Maiden Hurdle.

Sam Ewing produced the 11/2 shot to challenge over the last and, despite snatching at that flight slightly, he soon recovered to trump the 2/9 favourite late on for a neck success.

“He has a good attitude and he tries. He’s very honest,” said Elliott. “He probably likes that better ground and he could be a nice horse to tip on for the summer.”

Later, in the three-mile maiden hurdle, Lemmy Caution pulled out plenty late on to secure victory on his first outing over timber. Sam Ewing was in the plate again and his mount led after the fourth last.

The 7/4 favourite was a bit lonely in front in the closing stages, as The Rebel Fox stayed on to challenge, but found more late on for a length-and-a-half win.

“Sam said he’s a big baby and he wasn’t doing a stroke the whole way around,” said Elliott of the Gigginstown-owned gelding.

“He’s just a big raw horse, who wants a jump and good ground. I’d say he’s a big chaser.”

Patience pays off for Byrne

OWNER Darren Byrne was rewarded for the hard work he put into Private Policy, when the eight-year-old came good in the first division of the three-mile handicap hurdle.

The Nigel Slevin-trained gelding led over the third last and held the late charge of Illtakehimmyself to record a short-head victory, under Paddy Cleary.

“It was top class. I sourced the horse myself. He had an injury and it’s taken a while to get him to where we are at,” said Byrne of his 16/1 winner. “Without the help of Nigel and his wife Judith, I would have been nowhere, they are great people. I ride him out most days.

“One of my good friends, Charlie Flattery, kept him on his farm for me during the summer and his son got him going for me doing a lot of the road work. This is amazing. My kids were so excited telling everyone in school today. I fancied him myself, I couldn’t see him beat.”

No catching Oogum

Front-runner Oogum Boogum wasn’t for catching in the second division of the race, under a well-judged ride from Carl Millar. The Ken Budds-trained gelding had his rivals at work turning for home and stuck on well in the closing stages to beat Ballinaboola Gold by a length and a half.

“That’s the way to ride him, just let him gallop away and he keeps going. He’s tough out,” said Budds. “He actually ran well in a charity race here last time and was in great old form. We’ll go back over fences now and try and get one over fences. The owner Tom is my uncle and he bred him as well.”

The concluding bumper produced the finish of the day, with the Willie Mullins-trained Emerald Enigma just prevailing in a duel with Working Class Hero. The 11/8 favourite was to the fore throughout in the two-miler, but was headed by Working Class Hero when she swung wide turning for home. Patrick Mullins had a willing partner in the closing stages and edged the verdict late on, to score by a head.

The winning rider said afterwards: “She was green without a rail to run against and, once she got the rail, she went forward. I won on her dam at the Galway festival. We thought she was very good, but she got hurt on her next run. You could wait until Gowran for the listed bumper, give her a little break now. We’ll see what the boss wants to do.”