2012

SYMPATHY and admiration. Two of the emotions one has to feel for the Punchestown executive after a most trying week.

A racecourse that is not without its own history of difficulty, Punchestown had emerged in recent years from that bleak period to establish itself as one of the most vibrant and go-ahead bodies within the racing family.

Its executive has shown great initiative and refocused its efforts to take into account the prevailing economic conditions. A clear example of this was its decision a few years ago to delay the start of racing each day of the Festival until late afternoon. The crowds grew.

Having overcome so many major obstacles on its way to re-establishing the Festival meeting as one of the most important sporting and social events of the year, it was particularly unfortunate that Mother Nature should play such a cruel trick on this year’s event.

While obviously rocked by the ferocity of the weather conditions, the team – exemplified by the seemingly unflappable Richie Galway – battled on, and plans were being made, and probably torn up, by the hour. Richie might not enjoy being compared to a swan, but he retained an air of calmness throughout the turmoil, while below the surface he was surely feeling quite different.

I will put my hands up. I felt, before racing, that the decision to race on Wednesday was not right, and the initial reports from riders in the first race would have indicated that the odds of racing continuing were very slim. They raced on, with no injuries reported to riders or horses. Better a limited card than no racing at all.

Everyone survived

General consensus was that Thursday had no prospects of going ahead. It did, all the leading lights participated, and everyone survived. Crowd numbers were obviously going to suffer, but again better to have over 13,000 there than to have nothing. In spite of the atrocious weather conditions, there was little enough for racegoers to complain about. Rather, there was general admiration for the efforts of the executive to make sure racing went ahead.

Behind the scenes – and working through the night – the toiling of the ground staff has to singled out for special commendation.

The disruption to the meeting is sure to have a serious effect on the finances of Punchestown and that is to be regretted. On the other hand, we should all be unstinting in our praise for their efforts to ensure we enjoyed some top class fare.

Queen of all she surveys

2012

IT was a clash that delivered on its billing, and the race of the meeting saw Quevega produce perhaps the finest performance of her glittering career to brush aside Voler La Vedette in the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle.

Unquestionably one of the outstanding mares of the modern era, Quevega appeared to face quite a daunting assignment, with Voler La Vedette lying in wait after a superb second to Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham. The outcome of the race was sealed in stunning style by Willie Mullins’ charge, and her triumph looked the equal of anything she has done before.

The two rivals appeared to be going equally well nearing the straight, and Voler La Vedette was the first to make her bid for the lead off the final bend. However, Ruby Walsh was exuding the utmost confidence aboard Quevega, and the Hammer and Trowel Syndicate-owned mare went to the front before the last, even though she has yet to come under meaningful pressure.

She pulled five and a half lengths clear to win this race for the third year in succession. Mourad ran another fine race in defeat to finish a further four and a half lengths back in third. “She did everything that Ruby asked her to, and when push came to shove she responded well,” said Mullins.

“She’s just got so many gears, and I’d have no hesitation taking on the best around over two miles. She’s just such a good mare and showed that today. She’s a great mare to train as you can point her at just a couple of races every year. I think we’ll probably keep going the same route with her.”

When pressed on the prospect of the great mare taking on Big Buck’s at some stage, Mullins replied: “I’ve absolutely no problem if he gets an entry in the mares’ hurdle at Cheltenham!”

One has to go back to May 2009 to find the last time Quevega met with defeat, and bookmakers certainly believe that her unbeaten sequence is likely to continue. BoyleSports go 1/3 about her for next year’s mares’ hurdle at Cheltenham, while Paddy Power are a more measured even money for the same race.

Sizing ends season on a high note

2012

A RESILIENT Sizing Europe drew on all his resources to end the season on a high in the Boylesports.com Champion Chase, where the will to win that has helped make him such a terrific chaser was once again in evidence.

Following a season which featured such a brave second over three miles at Down Royal in November, a stunning Tingle Creek triumph, and a decidedly unlucky defeat in the Queen Mother at Cheltenham, Sizing Europe was returned the 8/13 favourite.

This was the third time that Henry de Bromhead’s charge has contested this event, and old rival Big Zeb, who defeated him last year, was again lying in wait. However, it was last season’s crack novice chaser, Realt Dubh, who gave the brilliant two-miler most to do.

The Alan and Ann Potts-owned 10-year-old jumped and travelled through the race with typical zest for Andrew Lynch, who was partnering his eighth Grade 1 winner of the season. A close second from an early stage, Sizing Europe struck for home rounding the final bend. The exacting conditions soon began to take their toll. A dogged Realt Dubh had moved into second and the favourite had quite a fight on his hands. Yet again though, Sizing Europe answered Andrew Lynch’s every call to carry the day by two and a quarter lengths. Biz Zeb was a further 18 lengths back.

“That was super. He jumped great and everything went to plan,” said a delighted de Bromhead. “On that sort of ground you’re going to be there to be shot at, and it was looking a little uncomfortable coming to the last. He was getting a bit tired and Realt Dubh is a hell of a horse, but he held on well. He’s just a horse of a lifetime.”