Reality To File edged out Spillane’s Tower in an exhilarating end to the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, as final season’s crack novices obtained the higher of established stars Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow.
The latter pair appeared to be in charge of proceedings out in entrance for a lot of the competition, however Reality To File got here cruising into competition below Mark Walsh as soon as they turned for dwelling.
He jumped the ultimate fence in very good trend to leap to the entrance previous Galopin Des Champs, however Spillane’s Tower, carrying the second colors of successful proprietor JP McManus, was additionally ending strongly and emerged as a critical risk on the run-in for Jack Kennedy.
Nonetheless, Reality To File was all the time doing simply sufficient and final season’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase victor scored by half a size at 7-2, giving Willie Mullins his tenth success within the race.
Stablemate Galopin Des Champs was two and 1 / 4 lengths again in third and Fastorslow completed fourth.
Mullins declared: “What a race! I used to be attempting to control all of them and I feel it is a testomony to the race that the horse that attempted to maintain up with Galopin Des Champs, Grangeclare West, needed to pull up earlier than the final.
“I believed we had been overwhelmed when Spillane’s Tower got here up alongside us midway up the run-in, so it simply reveals that he is made that leap from novice firm to senior firm that he may pull out extra. I really like that in a horse, that he may pull out a bit additional to get dwelling.
“Mark said he took a blow but stayed on well to win. He’s over 17 hands but an athletic horse with it. He has a lovely temperament and true grit.
“It was a hell of a race, and I think all these horses are going to win big races between now and the end of the season.
“It is incredible that Punchestown have introduced the race again to this time of the season and all these horses can get well in time to run round Christmas.
“I don’t know where they will go next but Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs could both run at Leopardstown.”
Reality To File is now favorite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with Betfair and Paddy Energy reducing him to 11-4 and Coral going as brief as 2-1.
Jimmy Mangan, coach of Spillane’s Tower, mentioned: “I’m absolutely over the moon, delighted with him. He hasn’t been on grass since he won here at the Festival. You couldn’t really because the ground has been so firm.
“There may be every thing to look ahead to however do not ask me the place he’ll run subsequent, as I could not let you know. He has choices between two and a half miles and three miles and final yr’s novice type is understanding properly.
“It was a great race and you had the best of horses and the best of jockeys.”
Contact Me Not takes Craddockstown crown
Contact Me Not additional enhanced Gordon Elliott’s glorious file within the BetVictor Craddockstown Novice Chase at Punchestown by comfortably accounting for better-fancied stablemate Farren Glory.
Sam Ewing’s mount put in an impressive spherical of leaping on the head of affairs and after being given a breather turning for dwelling, he discovered lots up the straight to attain by six lengths at 8-1.
Elliott was successful the two-mile Grade Two contest for the fourth time in 5 years, having beforehand struck with Felix Desjy, Riviere D’etel and Think about.
There was drama early on when Fascile Mode, who had overwhelmed the winner at this venue final month, fell and introduced down Jordans, which left Contact Me To not management proceedings.
The Gigginstown Home Stud-owned five-year-old and Ewing, who had been rerouted to Punchestown after Cork was referred to as off, by no means appeared again as they powered to a convincing victory, which earned quotes of 40-1 for the Arkle at Cheltenham from Betfair and Paddy Energy.
Elliott commented on the winner: “Sam said he got as much fun riding him as he has on any horse in a long time.
“He got here from the point-to-point subject in England. He really fell on the final in his point-to-point, consider it or not.
“I was worried about the ground but it was a good performance. He obviously came on from the last day.
“He was very eager at dwelling as a younger horse and he wasn’t exhibiting me something, however he is come a good distance in six months.
“I’m not sure where he’ll go next, but we’ll get him home and see where we go.”
Farren Glory had proven loads of skill over hurdles, claiming the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse final December earlier than wanting an unfortunate loser when searching for extra Grade One glory at Aintree, the place he took a heavy fall in entrance on the second final.
He was no match for Inthepocket on his chasing debut at Wexford however went one higher in superb trend at Naas subsequent trip and was a 7-4 shot to take this step up in school in his stride.
Nonetheless, regardless of travelling easily by way of the race for Jack Kennedy and transferring as much as second place, he may by no means get to his stablemate on the enterprise finish of the competition.
Punchestown Pleasure for Mullins and Townend
Lot Of Pleasure dominated the Listed Frontline Safety Grabel Mares Hurdle from the entrance for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend at Punchestown.
Townend set a powerful gallop early on, because the six-year-old appeared to observe up final month’s comfy triumph at Gowran Park.
He allowed the chasing pack to shut up however then kicked once more after turning for dwelling, with the 6-4 favorite powering 4 lengths away from runner-up Danger Belle.
Paul Townend guides Lof Of Pleasure over a hurdle
Mullins mentioned: “I think she enjoyed being left alone in front and Paul was happy with her. She took her breathers and jumped better. She’s settling better.
“We did not suppose she would deal with that kind of floor, nevertheless it’s good to know that she’s in a position to deal with it and we are able to proceed along with her. We had been half considering of placing her away.
“She could go to Leopardstown, and I wouldn’t mind stepping up to two and a half. She has to improve a bit, but we’ll give her the opportunity.”
Each Betfair and Paddy Energy launched Lot Of Pleasure into their Cheltenham Competition Mares’ Hurdle market at 20-1.
Stumptown made each put up a successful one for a brave success over the banks within the Colm Quinn BMW Danger Of Thunder Chase below Keith Donoghue.
Gavin Cromwell’s 3-1 probability took high honours in a cross-country occasion on the Punchestown Competition in Could and clearly loved himself on this sphere once more, seeing off the problem of market chief Coko Seashore earlier than galloping on to beat outsider Three By Two by two and three-quarter lengths.
Cromwell mentioned: “He’s taken to it so well, he loves it. He’s careful enough over his fences in chases and you might think that he wouldn’t have the heart for it, but he’s taken to it really well.
“There’s a race at Cheltenham in December and he’ll most likely go there.
“I don’t know too much about it but Keith says the course is very different to here. We’ll be happy to get him over there at the next meeting and get him around it.”
The Huge Westerner continued Henry de Bromhead’s superb run of type when rallying gamely to get the higher of Argento Boy within the I.N.H. Stallion House owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at 4-1.
Purchased for £120,000 after a Ballycahane point-to-point victory, the five-year-old mare confirmed an admirable angle after the agency favorite had moved alongside approaching the ultimate flight.
De Bromhead mentioned: “She looks a nice mare, jumped great and travelled well. Darragh (O’Keeffe) was great on her and I’m delighted to get it for the Marigas, who are great supporters of ours.
“She picked up properly after lacking the final a bit. She’s nonetheless a bit inexperienced. I feel she’ll deal with pageant floor, however she’ll undergo the winter stuff. I hope so. She’s a giant, scopey mare and therefore the title, I suppose.
“We’ve some lovely young horses – we hoped we had coming into the season and felt we had bought well, but you never know. We’re happy where we are at the moment and we’ll try to maintain it.”
