THE two feature races at Punchestown on Sunday were the Listed INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle and the Grade B Boylesports Grand National Trial Chase, won respectively by the cousins Hardline and Folsom Blue. The latter was repeating a feat he achieved back in 2014 as a seven-year-old when he was trained by Conor O’Dwyer.

Hardline made news before he raced, topping the 2015 Goffs Land Rover Sale at €155,000. The son of Arctic Tack Stud’s German-bred Arcadio (Monsun) was bred by Nadja Humphreys and sold through the Jamestown Consignment as a foal to Hugh Bleahen for €20,000. Bleahen sold him on as a store from his Clifton Farm, with Mouse Morris signing the purchase docket.