Punchestown Day 3: Majborough bounces back from Cheltenham disappointment by romping home to claim Novice chase
Last season's Triumph Hurdle hero had looked every inch a top-class chaser in the making after winning his first two starts over the larger obstacles, but a juddering error two fences from home ultimately led to him suffering a surprise reverse in the Arkle at Prestbury Park in mid-March.
The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was sent off at 4-11 to reward those who kept the faith back on home soil and while he pulled his way to the front on the second circuit and raced keenly throughout under Mark Walsh, he stamped his class from the home turn, pulling 14 lengths clear of the Arkle runner-up Only By Night.
Mullins, saddling his 200th winner of the season in Ireland, said "He jumped today like we know he can jump. For some reason things didn't go right for him in Cheltenham, but he's redeemed himself today.
"He's a huge, big horse but he's very light framed and is an athlete every time you look at him. Looking at him in the parade ring today, there wasn't one ounce of spare flesh on him, and I couldn't have galloped him one more time.
"He's only five and hopefully he'll mature this summer. I'm looking forward to what he could mature into over the next 18 months or two years.
"What he did there you are looking at the Champion Chase, but he has enough pedigree to stay a trip."
Putapoundinthejar, with Sean Bowen up, jumps the last on their way to winning the Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle during day three of the Punchestown Festival. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Earlier, Britain's newly-crowned champion jockey Sean Bowen was at his brilliant best as he steered Putapoundinthejar to victory in the opening race on day three of the Festival.
Taking to the saddle for the first time sine celebrating his title triumph with a big-race success aboard Resplendent Grey in Saturday's bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, the 27-year-old produced another power-packed ride on Tony Martin's 17-2 shot in the Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle.
Battle Of Ridgeway (50-1) was clear of the chasing pack on the run to the final flight, but Bowen conjured a late charge out of Putapoundinthejar, who got up to score by half a length.
Bowen, who since Saturday has enjoyed his stag party in Tenerife, said: 'He did well to win as he didn't jump well at all. He got into a rhythm from halfway and did well to pick up the leader.
'I had a good clear run down to the last. He winged the last and picked up well from the back of it.
'It's good ground and he enjoyed that. He will have learned loads today.'
Sean's brother James Bowen got his name on the winner's board after Jeriko Du Reponet (13-2 joint-favourite) led home a one-two for Nicky Henderson in the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle.
Doddiethegreat beat Jeriko Du Reponet in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival and the Seven Barrows pair again came to the fore, but this time it was the latter who came out on top to give his rider a timely boost ahead of partnering Constitution Hill in Friday's Champion Hurdle.
Henderson said: 'I felt sorry for one horse at Cheltenham and I now I feel sorry for the other one! There was no alternative route other than to come here and take each other on again.
'You've got to be delighted with both of them – two divisions would have helped!
'It all went wrong for Jeriko at the start of the season when he was meant to go chasing and we thought he was going to be the star. It all went wrong at Sandown on his first start, it was terrible and we had to come back over hurdles.
'The Pertemps became the objective, he didn't quite win that but he's got his consolation and we must go back over fences next year and get the job done properly.'
There was further success for the raiding party in the Frontline Security Handicap Chase, with 16-1 shot Petit Tonnerre finishing with a flourish under Richie McLernon to strike gold for the father-son training partnership of Jonjo and AJ O'Neill.
The latter said: 'We were hitting the crossbar earlier in the week but Richie gave that lad a really lovely ride, very patient, and it was lovely to see it coming off for all the team.
'JP (McManus, owner) is a massive supporter of the game and a massive supporter of ours, so it's amazing to have a winner on a day like today.'
Joseph O'Brien and J J Slevin teamed up to land the Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase with 7-1 shot Busselton.
'It's a special race, historic. It was really exciting for us as it was our first runner in it and even to have a horse for the banks this year was special,' said O'Brien.
'J J has done a great job schooling this horse and gave him a fantastic ride today. He's won under all codes and hopefully will win again.'
O'Brien and Slevin completed a surprise double in the Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle, with Cottesloe Sunshine (33-1) beating the Cheltenham Festival runner-up and 8-13 favourite Sixandahalf into third place.
O'Brien added: 'It was a great ride by J J and a very tough filly. She jumped well today and I'm delighted for Nick (Fahy, owner) and his family who are here today.
'We were coming here fresh and a lot of the competitors had been to all the Festivals over the last few months. I'd be lying if I said I expected her to win but we thought we might run well.'
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