REST OF THE CARD

QUANTITATIVEEASING’S day in the sun at the head of the cross-country division finally arrived as he fended off stablemate Cantlow to claim the FBD-sponsored La Touche Cup.

Enda Bolger’s first winner of the race since 2010 last year was grabbed in the final yards by Uncle Junior and at last year’s Cheltenham Festival was carried out at the second last.

This time Quantitativeeasing moved to the head of the field for Mark Walsh around two-thirds of the way though this four and a quarter miles contest.

The Anshan gelding hardly made a mistake at any of the 35 obstacles and he kept on doggedly in the closing stages to defeat fellow J.P. McManus-owned runner Cantlow by three lengths. On his final appearance the 15-year-old Uncle Junior ran a splendid race to secure fourth.

“That was exciting to watch, I don’t think he ever missed a beat,” reflected Bolger who was making it 13 wins in this race. “Good ground is very important to him and he is entered here on Saturday but we’ll just see how he comes out of this.”

FINESSE

Bright New Dawn showed just what he is capable of when he puts it altogether as a ride of some finesse from Bryan Cooper brought Gordon Elliott’s charge home in front in the €50,000 Three.ie Handicap Chase. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned nine-year-old is capable of high class form but hadn’t made much of an impression in handicap company over the course of the season.

Here a patient and cool ride from Cooper worked the oracle. The jockey was still sitting quietly on his mount approaching two out and it was only after the last that he asked Bright New Dawn for his all and the 12/1 chance responded to defeat the front-running Rock The World by a length.

“That was a brilliant ride from Bryan,” stated Elliott. “He’s frustrating as he’s good but there’s been more bad than good from him.”

Elliott then made it a double as the Jack Kennedy-ridden Missy Tata (6/4) ran out a leisurely winner of the Setanta Sports Mares Novice Hurdle. Fourth in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham, the four-year-old had no difficulty dealing with older opposition. She cruised through on the inner to lead before the straight and an awkward jump at the last made no difference to the favourite who finished nine lengths clear of Ria D’Etel.

The first two home both carried the colours of successful owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

“She’s not a bad mare and I don’t think I had her fit enough at Cheltenham,” stated Elliott. “She handles soft ground well so she might be one that we could bring to France for some nice races but I’ll speak to Anthony Bromley and the owners.”

HENDERSON WINNER

Cup Final made it a double on the day for J.P. McManus and provided Nicky Henderson with his first winner of the week as he came from an apparently hopeless position in the Murray Spelman Handicap Hurdle.

On his last start the 14/1 chance pulled up in the Pertemps Final and he looked tset to struggle here as he had only a couple of rivals behind him jumping the fourth last. Cup Final responded to Robert Power’s promptings to pick his way though the field and he sustained his effort to chin the unlucky Jury Duty.

“The rain is certainly getting into the ground and Robbie felt that he was struggling for a long way but he just crept and crept and he just got there but just was good enough,” remarked Henderson.

MULLINS BUMPER

The likeable Invitation Only (9/10) continued an excellent week for Willie Mullins on the bumper front as he made all the running in the Kildare Post (C&G) Flat Race. The former pointer was one of eight previous winners in the line up. One by one he forced his rivals to give best as he continued to pour on the pressure up front and even in the last furlong and a half he found more to repel the strong travelling Blast Of Koeman by a length and a half.

“He looks a staying novice hurdler for next season and anything between two and a half or three miles will be fine for him,” observed Mullins of the Andrea and Graham Wylie-owned son of Flemensfirth. “He’s good winter horse and he just burned them off with the pace he went.”

An industrious season ended on a high for Elusive Ivy as she reeled off her third victory of the campaign in the JLT Handicap Hurdle. Jer’s Girl’s work companion was produced by rider Brien Kane to launch her effort in the straight and she struck the front nearing the last flight.

Elusive Ivy (16/1) established a useful lead on the run in and this enabled her to withstand The Brock Inn’s late charge by three quarters of a length.

“The little bit of juice in the ground helped over the two miles today as she does stay further,” reported Gavin Cromwell who trains the six-year-old for long-time patron Eamon Waters. “She has come in her coat and improved in her work. We might send her chasing now.”

Acting Stewards

P. Caffrey, M. O’Donnell, J. McGuire, N. O’Byrne, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

RIA D’ETEL (W.P. Mullins): She was having her first run since September when chasing home Missy Tata in the mares’ hurdle. A listed winner over hurdles in France, she will progress well from this run.

Junior retires

THIS year’s La Touche marked Uncle Junior’s final appearance on the track and he received a warm reception from the crowd as he returned to the enclosure having finished an honourable fourth.

A 12-time winner during the course of his 52-race career, Uncle Junior recorded memorable wins in the La Touche in 2012 and 2015 and he was appearing at his seventh Punchestown Festival with his other visits having included a handicap chase triumph in 2011. Owned by Luke McMahon, the son of Saddlers’ Hall either won or was placed in more than half his starts.