TRAINERS’ championship front-runners Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott shared the two graded races run at Punchestown on Sunday as Elliott’s Andy Dufresne resumed winning ways in the featured Grade 2 Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle.
The J.P. McManus-owned gelding’s only previous defeat came in a similar Grade 2 contest at Navan in December and was sent off here the 8/15 favourite to beat five rivals.
Anything Will Do set the early pace but was headed by eventual runner-up Captain Guinness, who pulled hard for much of the running, before the fourth hurdle.
Captain Guinness was still travelling strongly after the second last as Andy Dufresne was the first of the leading pair to come under pressure. However, Captain Guinness’ earlier exertions meant he had less in reserve in the closing stages as Andy Dufresne went by on the run-in to grind out a three-quarter-length win.
Winning trainer Elliott later said: “He got beat by a good horse of Paul Nolan’s (Latest Exhibition) the last day in Navan where he probably outstayed us but that was more like it today.
“Mark (Walsh, winning jockey) said the inside track was tight enough for him here over two miles. He took a bit of organising around the last bend but when he straightened up he jumped the last well.
“I’m not sure what the plans are. I still don’t think two and half is a problem to him – he stays well. The way he moves he’ll probably be better on better ground.”
Good jumps
Willie Mullins had earlier won the Grade 3 Killiney Novice Chase with Cheltenham candidate Carefully Selected (4/7 favourite), under Paul Townend for Margaret Masterson.
Carefully Selected made all when eventually beating City Island by 24 lengths, having shaken off the challenge of his nearest rival Speak Easy, who fell at the final fence.
Mullins commented: “This race wasn’t the plan and I wanted to get experience into him because he missed running at Leopardstown.
“He was careful when he needed to be and got some good jumps when Paul wanted him. He learned a lot today.
“He didn’t get too hard a race there. I hadn’t planned running at the Dublin Racing Festival but maybe he could go for something just after that, before Cheltenham.
“The way he went around there the National Hunt Chase would be right up his street but we have to keep the RSA open as well.”
ELEVEN-time champion point-to-point jockey Derek O’Connor was strongly praised by James Dullea for his winning ride on Margaret Kiely’s Rocky’s Silver (7/2) in the Total Event Rental (Q.R.) Handicap Chase.
O’Connor moved his mount through to lead on the inside, having spotted leader Biddy The Boss’ tendency to jump to her left, and in the end the ground-saving manoeuvre helped score a length-and-a-half win over Final List.
Dullea acknowledged: “Derek was at his very best there. We felt the trip and the ground would suit.
“Obviously he went up (11lb) for winning here before but we were hopeful.
“He made a mistake early on but Derek got us out of trouble and gave him a fantastic ride.
“Any day a small yard like ours has a winner at Punchestown it’s great.
“He could come back here for the National Trial.”
Chosen wins
Racing began with the Sporting Life Beginners Chase which was won easily by the Sean Aherne-trained Chosen Hour (11/2), under jockey Sean O’Keeffe. Showing the benefit of three previous chase runs, the son of Well Chosen routed the field to win by 29 lengths from runner-up Cherokee Bill for Nicholas O’Neill.
Afterwards, trainer Aherne said: “He was rated 109 over hurdles so it was an ideal race for him.
“Where we go now I don’t know but there is a few options for him. He’s been a lucky horse so far.”
First success
The other chase on the card was the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase which saw jockey Trevor Ryan steer a first career winner for trainer Tom Mullins on Chavi Artist (11/2).
The winner had not jumped fluently at Fairyhouse last time out, having been brought down at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting previously. Chavi Artist is owned by Rory Larkin.
Mullins later reported: “Trevor is a grand lad. He’s hungry and appears to be a sensible fella. By chance I got him to ride one or two a few weeks ago.
“He got brought down on this horse at Leopardstown and I said I’d give him another chance today.”
Le Musigny has a champion’s pedigree
CONNECTIONS of big race runner-up Captain Guinness gained a measure of compensation when Le Musigny credited his trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore with a win in the concluding Racing TV Club Day Today Maiden Hurdle.
Le Musigny was defying a 603-day absence from his previous point-to-point runs to win on his racecourse debut for the trainer’s wife Heather, at odds of 12/1.
De Bromhead reported: “He’s a horse we’ve always liked and always worked like a good horse but he’s just taken a bit of time.
“He is a half-brother to Le Richebourg and Grands Crus so he has a savage pedigree.
“We said to Rachael to give him time and let him settle. It worked out well as they went a good gallop and got a bit tired near the end.
“She said he was still a bit green when he hit the front and should improve plenty. Whatever he does over hurdles, fences should be his game.
“He’ll go for a novice and we’ll take it from there.”
Colours’ cheer
Philip Enright registered a winner on his first ride for trainer Paul Nolan as the pair won with lightly-weighted My Club Colours (9/1) in the Irish Jockeys Association (Mares) Handicap Hurdle.
Nolan’s first-choice jockey Bryan Cooper was unable to do the 9st 13lb weight and with Sean O’Keeffe, My Club Colours’ previous rider, unable to utilise his 5lb claim, the winning spare ride was handed to jockey Enright, who steered the daughter of Jeremy to a four-length win for the Gaels Racing Club.