Quevega lines up challenge for Mares Hurdle
Ruby Walsh, on the French-bred mare, third at Grade 1 level at Auteuil last June, tracked front-running Vic Venturi until taking command at the penultimate hurdle and drawing clear to beat her stable-companion Sesenta comfortably by four lengths.
Owned by the Hammer & Trowel Syndicate, Quevega was recording a sixth career win and her third since joining Willie Mullins. Mullins said: “I’m delighted. I didn’t think she was particularly right for today. And there should be a lot of improvement in her.”
“In a way, I took a chance running her today, just three weeks before Cheltenham. But she needed a run. And she’ll go for the mares’ race over there.”
Quevega’s Festival target will be the Grade 2 David Nicholson Mares Hurdle, for which Cashmans cut her to 10/1 (from 12/1) immediately after the race before reporting plenty of support and slashing her to 7/1.
Ruby struck again when 1/2 shot Sports Line made all the running to land the Festival Hospitality Maiden Hurdle in the colours of the Dublin-based TKPP Syndicate.
He beat chief market rival Dundrum by three and a half lengths, prompting Willie Mullins to comment: “I was happy to come back to Punchestown with him. He was unlucky at Cork and, hopefully, we’ll have another day out of him over hurdles.
“But he has the build and look of a chaser. He probably needs a longer trip. And Ruby said he’d be much better going left-handed.”
John Kiely was also in double form, landing the opening Book Your Festival Tickets Hurdle with Head Of The Posse and the bumper with JP McManus-owned newcomer Taking Stock.
David Casey brought Head Of The Posse from well off the pace to master Deal Done on the run-in of the opener, a neck separating the pair at the line. Kiely said, “That’s compensation for Mallow the last day. He should make a nice chaser next season and needs soft ground. So I’m not sure if you’ll see him again over hurdles.”
And the Dungarvan-based maestro, who ruled another of his exciting bumper horses Sweeps Hill out of Cheltenham, completed his double when Taking Stock, well touted and backed both in the morning and on track against Willie Mullins’ Rinceoir Rua, made a successful debut in the Rockview Flat Race.
Although a bit keen throughout for Padraig Roche, the strapping Flemensfirth gelding picked up when asked to see off Conor O’Dwyer’s former ‘pointer’ Presenting Massey, with the favourite a well-beaten third.
“It’s nice when you have the horses,” declared a delighted Kiely, “This fellow is a horse for next year, a real chaser. And I think he’ll be having a holiday after that.”
Noel Meade will resist the temptation to send Realt Dubh to Cheltenham, despite his odds-on win under stable jockey Paul Carberry in the Book The Punchestown Pavilion At The Festival Hurdle.
Sent to the front after the third last, the five-year-old was being challenged by the Ruby Walsh-ridden Otay Kawn when that rival pecked on landing at the last, allowing Realt Dubh to stretch clear for a clearcut, four-length win.
“It’s nice to beat Willie the odd time, ” said Meade, “I think a lot of this horse. He’s very good and will be better over further. Paul said he idled in front but found plenty.
“He won’t be travelling to Cheltenham. But there are other places to go with him. He should win plenty of races. And he’ll improve when he goes over fences.”
Jim Dreaper continued his successful season when Retrievethelegend won the Festival Shopping Village Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Andrew Lynch.
“He’s an ordinary horse, but one of my favourites,” stated Dreaper as he beat gambled-on Tooman Lane readily. “He tries hard and does his best. I was worried about him coming back 18 days after finishing so tired in the Grand National Trial here, when he didn’t stay.
“He had numerous problems with the course-builder in his early days over fences. He kept putting the fences in all the wrong places!”
It was a day to savour for trainer James Hannon, from Tallow, Co Waterford, and amateur Denis ‘Denny’ Spillane (24) who tasted racecourse success for the first time with well-backed Kind Oscar in the Brannockstown Mares Maiden Hurdle. Backed from 5/1 to 3/1, the daughter of Oscar won convincingly, her task eased significantly when favourite Fly Vic sustained a serious injury and was pulled early in the race before being put down.
“She stays well and needs two and a half miles,” explained Hannon, who confirmed that he would have ridden the mare, had he been able to do the weights.
