Ted and Katie Walsh in winning combo at Punchestown
Ted and Katie Walsh have combined to take the Ernst & Young Handicap Chase at Punchestown with 25-1 chance Battlefront running out a wide-margin winner.
Coscorrig cut out much of the running but was a spent force when Battlefront went to the front before the turn for home.
The result was in little doubt thereafter as Walsh, who recorded two wins at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, safely guided her mount over the remaining fences to pass the post eight lengths ahead of Jubilant Note.
Walsh senior said: "He jumped like a buck but didn't handle the heavy ground at Fairyhouse the last day. He had a nice weight on 9st 10lb and couldn’t have done it any better.”
He added: "I couldn't believe he was the price he was, he had beaten Clear Gold before and if he was going to be in the frame so were we.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing – if I had known he was going to win like that I would have had a couple of hundred each-way at 25-1!”
Meanwhile, cross-country king Enda Bolger recorded his seventh win in the last eight runnings of the La Touche Cup as hot favourite L'Ami edged out stable companion Freneys Well.
L’Ami was sent off at 13-8 for the Avon Ri Corporate & Leisure Resort Chase in the hands of JT McNamara and travelled powerfully throughout the four-mile-three-furlong event.
Freneys Well was in front turning for home and looked as though he would hold on to his advantage, but L’Ami jumped the last fence the better and stayed on well to the line to score by a length and three quarters.
Bolger said: "I'm delighted to see L'Ami win as he's been a bridesmaid for a while. We’re beginning to see nicer horses run in these races.
“L’Ami was fourth in a Gold Cup, so you could say that the cream has risen to the top. Mr (JP) McManus (owner) is kind enough to throw these good horses at me and if you look after them and school them, they do the hard work for you.”
Finally, the application of first-time blinkers did the trick for Prince Rudi as he bounced back to form to take the Naas Court Hotel Handicap Hurdle.
Sent off at 16-1 having gone almost two years since recording his solitary success, the eight-year-old careered away in the straight to come home nine lengths ahead of Dancing Hero.
