Radar books Punchestown ticket with comfortable success

BENEATH The Radar booked his ticket to next week’s Punchestown Festival when comfortably landing the odds in the McGrath Quarry Group Hurdle at Ballinrobe last night.

The Dessie Hughes-trained seven-year-old was sent off a strong 4/5 favourite in the absence of Apt Approach, Leading Run and Dante Hall and gave his supporters no worries, tracking market rival Clarkey before asserting on the approach to the final flight and scoring by three and a half lengths.

Hughes commented: “He was entitled to do that, although I was worried about Clarkey after his win at Thurles. But he won easily and will go to Punchestownnow, for one of the handicaps. If he gets into the big two-and-a-half miler (Whitewater Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle), that’ll be his target.”