O'Brien and Slevin combine for 271-1 double
The Newmarket 2000 Guineas may be foremost on the mind of Joseph O'Brien, with Scorthy Champ a leading contender for Classic honours on Saturday afternoon at Newmarket, but there was business to be tended to at Punchestown, and he and JJ Slevin delivered a 271-1 double.
Busselton was first up, in the Mongey Communication La Touche Cup, and in a finish involving two former Kerry National winners, he responded well to Slevin's encouragement to fend off the determined Desertmore House.
A race of tradition, which holds a special place in the hearts of the National Hunt community, it meant the world to Slevin to win the race as his father, Shay, won it as trainer of Treo Eile in 2017. It was a much-coveted but delayed success for the rider, who would have ridden 2019 winner Ballyboker Bridge but for sustaining a serious injury in the opening race of that day.
'I've been watching these races for as long as I can remember and it's special to win it,' said the rider. 'I was worried when I saw Desertmore House coming to the last, because I knew how well he had schooled for Martin (Brassil, trainer). They are two good horses to run in a banks race and this is a special race to win.
'It's great to see all the big trainers supporting it and there is a high-quality horse going into it nowadays. You have to jump well and have a bit of ability to win them now.'
The O'Brien-Slevin double came up in the listed Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares' Novice Hurdle, in which 33-1 chance Cottesloe Sunshine raced home clear of the fast-finishing Mozzies Sister, with favourite Sixandahalf in third.
Recently crowned British champion jumps jockey Sean Bowen was class personified aboard Putapoundinthejar in the Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle. We're used to seeing Tony Martin-trained runners being delivered late, but this was a masterclass.
Bowen didn't panic as Battle Of Ridgeway made the best of his way home before the final turn and, after being forced to switch from the rails to five-wide, he engaged top gear and collared the clear leader just strides before the line.
Jonjo and AJ O'Neill combined with Richie McLernon to take the Frontline Security Handicap Chase with the JP McManus-owned Petit Tonnere. Late to make his challenge, he collared Dont Go Yet in the closing stages, with the gambled-on Mirazur West in third, having tried to make all the running.
Jody McGarvey, who rode the third-placed horse, announced his retirement after the event, calling time on a career which yielded four Grade One successes, the first of which was at this meeting in 2017 when he rode the talented but free-going Great Field to victory in the Ryanair Novice Chase.
'I thought I was going to have the fairytale ending but those two feckers in front of me (Richie McLernon and Philip Donovan) spoiled the party. Look, I still led them all down over the final fence at the Punchestown Festival on my final ride, riding for JP McManus. It was great to do that after riding my first winner for JP too.
'I have a lot to be thankful for. I had my share of injuries, but I got through it and I'm able to retire on my own terms. I've enjoyed it.
'I could have kept going for another couple of years — I didn't want to stop riding — but the opportunities are just getting thin on the ground, and I want to go out while I'm still feeling like I'm riding well. I've ridden a few winners in the last few weeks and enjoyed it. I'm glad that I'm leaving the game without a chip on my shoulder.'
Nicky Henderson provided the first two home in the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle, but it was a reverse of the finishing order in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham as Jeriko Du Reponet turned around the form with stablemate Doddiethegreat. For rider James Bowen, it was a first in this country, and it completed a family double, his brother Sean's having taken the opener.
Alan King saddled a third British-based winner for the day and sixth of the meeting to date when Baron Noir, ridden by Rob James, came home best of all to win the bumper, doing so at the expense of fellow raider El Cairos, who drifted left under pressure in the final furlong.
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