Winner and a broken nose for Ruby

Ruby Walsh left Punchestown with a winner and a broken nose yesterday.

The former champion broke his nose when the subsequently withdrawn Andiamos unseated him on the way to the start of the opener.

He hit the deck again in the following race, when Apr Approach crashed at the fourth last (the ten-year-old, winner of seven races broke a leg and had to be put down).

And he then partnered the potentially smart Un De Sceaux to an all-the-way win, on his Irish debut, in the Festival Party Pack Maiden Hurdle.

Un De Seaux, a dual-winner in France, set a strong pace and, pressed by market rival Sammy Black from the third last, ultimately proved an emphatic six lengths winner.

Trainer Willie Mullins, now just one short of Aidan O’Brien’s record for the number of National Hunt winners in a season, commented: “He’s been doing that sort of work at home. I’ve been looking forward to getting him to the track.

“He jumped very well for a horse having his first run over hurdles and looks a good addition to the team.

“He’s keen and very hard on himself. So we’ll see how he comes out of today’s race before going for a winners of one with him,” added Mullins.

“That was the plan. I spotted the race a few weeks back and it has worked out,” stated trainer Eddie Harty after the J P McManus-owned Dresstothenines landed the Festival Any Day Flexi-Ticket Hurdle under Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden.

Harty added: “It’s not a nice way to win (referring to favourite Apt Approach breaking a leg when falling at the fourth last and being put down). But she’s a nice mare and I’ll try to find another similar race for her.”

Having chased front-runner Mount Colah throughout, Madden had to drive the winner into the lead approaching the final flight before stretching clear to triumph by eleven lengths.,

A few reputations were dented in the two bumpers. In the four-year-old contest, Aidan O’Brien’s first bumper runners since 2004, Shield (Kate Harrington) and Kingsbarns’ full-brother Egyptian Warrior (Sarah O’Brien) filled fourth and fifth spots respectively.

The Garrett Power-trained 20/1 shot Yes Sir Brian, confidently ridden by Derek O’Connor, came from last to first to beat market-leaders Ange Balafre and gambled-on favourite Guns And Malt. O’Connor commented: “He ran away with me going to the start but, when he learns more, he could be top drawer.”

The Willie Mullins-trained 1/2 favourite Sizing Brisbane disappointed in the finale, fading to finish fourth behind the Dick Donohoe-trained 33/1 debutante Rathvawn Belle, a first winner in the saddle for David Mullins (16), son of trainer Tom Mullins.

After the demise of four odds-on shots at Navan on Tuesday, two more bit the dust here, starting with Ted Walsh’s Foxrock, which could finish only third behind the Colin Bowe-trained Kashline (Barry O’Neill) in the opening Festival Free Upgrade Maiden Hurdle.

Held up, Kashline came through to master Fergiethelegend and Foxrock. Trainer Bowe said: “He deserved that after his placed runs. Barry says the horse likes being held up and that he’d come with one late run and it worked out well.

“This fellow has loads of scope and will have no problem jumping a fence next season.”

The Dessie Hughes-trained Claudia Augusta proved a shock winner of the Punchestown.com For Festival Offers Mares Maiden Hurdle, battling well under Mark Enright to hold Tudor Fashion by three-quarters of a length.

Hughes commented: “She ran quite well the second day in Thurles and handled the ground well. The extra half-mile helped and, as a home-bred mare, she’s done her job.”

After saddling his first winner since July, the Rob Jones-ridden Day Dream Boy in the Festival Hospitality Handicap Hurdle, trainer Eddie Cawley declared: “You take anything you get in this tough world,” before he admitted: “I was surprised he travelled so well in that ground. He stays well and won’t have a problem with three miles. With a bit of luck, he might win another.”