Point-to-point winner Commander Of Fleet ran out a hugely impressive winner of the Goffs Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown on Tuesday.
Bolted up! Commander Of Fleet looks one for the future with a wide-margin win in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper. Off the mark at @punchestownrace, it's a 1-2-3 for @gelliott_racing... pic.twitter.com/hYoFSiy4ia
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 24, 2018
Owned by Gigginstown House Stud, the 5/1 shot won the €100,000 race by a wide margin and his trainer Gordon Elliott also supplied the placed horses, Column Of Fire and Santana Plessis.
Ridden by top amateur Barry O'Neill, Commander Of Fleet is a son of the late Fame And Glory, also the sire of closing race winner Kaluna River. This 16/1 chance is trained by Pat Fahy and was partnered by Patrick Mullins, whose father Willie did not have a runner in the race.
A great day for Patrick Mullins - the jockey times things to perfection aboard Kalum River in the finale, wrapping up quite a day at Punchestown: pic.twitter.com/29zK1ZShnb
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 24, 2018
Just Wait And See gamely held off Blue Templar to win the Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup.
A great finish to kick off the Punchestown Festival! After 27 obstacles over the banks, Just Wait And See (16/1) denies Blue Templar in the Sean Breen Memorial Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup: pic.twitter.com/KKMchJSuWZ
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 24, 2018
Ridden by Limerick man Billy Gleeson and trained by his father, John, the victorious 16/1 chance hit the front inside the final half a mile.
But Derek O’Connor conjured up a late rally from Blue Templar, having been under pressure from some way out, and only went down by a head in a thrilling finish.
John Gleeson said: “I only have a handful of horses to keep an interest in the game. This has given me the biggest buzz I’ve ever had in my life.”
Billy Gleeson said: “We’ve had the horse since he was four.
“He’s a real fun horse – a very clever jumper – and God knows how many fences he’s jumped in his life.”
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