Treble for Kelly

Kieran Kelly was the star of the show at Punchestown when riding a 359-1 treble on Mutineer, What’s The Score and Berkley.

Kelly sparked his three-timer on Mutineer in the Grade Three Ryan’s Cleaning Services Juvenile Hurdle as the 4-1 chance made all the running.

In his element in soft ground, Mutineer gamely held Kenilworth by a neck and was shortened to 50-1 (from 66-1) for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham by Cashmans of Cork.

Mutineer is trained on the Curragh by Kelly’s boss Dessie Hughes who also produced What’s The Score to land the Campbell Handicap Chase at 7-1.

The 24-year old jockey then capped his most rewarding meeting winners-wise as he got Berkley (8-1) up on the far rail close to home to land the Stallion Owners Maiden Hurdle for Wexford trainer Michael Cullen.

Champion jockey Paul Carberry completed a double on favourites Native Commander (7-4) in the Hunt Stand Handicap Chase and Reminiscer (7-2) in the Vincent Doherty & Co. Handicap Hurdle.

Sheltering showed the benefit of a wind operation at the end of last season when staging a splendid comeback under top weight in the Kilteel Hunter’s Chase in the hands of Gordon Elliott.

Jumping splendidly, Sheltering came home virtually alone as he went right away from The Wipper who had attempted to make all the running.

This was a welcome morale-booster for Sheltering’s Tipperary trainer Edward O’Grady whose horses had been hit by a virus in December and Sheltering will go on to the Cheltenham Festival for the Foxhunters’ Chase and then the Martell Grand National.