Sivola made to work at Punchestown

Ut De Sivola gave odds-on backers a scare in the Visit Punchestown.com Juvenile Hurdle.

Willie Mullins’ youngster figures prominently in the betting for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and was sent off as the 1-4 favourite in the Grade Three contest.

However, Ruby Walsh was hard at work alongside Dermot Weld’s Hisaabaat and Paul Townend at the final flight when that rival made a bad blunder.

The winning distance was three and a quarter lengths but before the mistake the race was still in the balance.

Mullins said: “Ut De Sivola’s better jumping won it for him.

“He was very keen early on and got caught on the outside. I’m hoping he’ll improve from that and we’ll probably look to run him again on (Irish) Hennessy day – the experience will do him no harm.”

Ipsos Du Berlais (9-4) paid a handsome compliment to Boston Bob when winning the Noel Farrelly Memorial Hurdle.

Five lengths behind Mullins’ potential star in a Grade One at Navan, Noel Meade’s grey looked in some trouble half a mile out as Western Leader stretched the field.

Walsh was next to send out distress signals on Mullins’ new recruit Sergent Guib’s, while China Rock, returning after injury, travelled nicely for a long way.

Rounding the turn for home Davy Russell got Ipsos Du Berlais into overdrive and he drew alongside Western Leader before pulling clear for a six and a half length win.

“I was a little disappointed with the way he travelled through the race but he is lazy,” said Meade.

“Davy said they went very fast, he’s only a novice so I thought it was a very good performance.

“He wants three miles and maybe a bit faster ground and should learn a lot from today.

“I blame myself for his Thurles defeat as he was running back a bit too quick. He ran a good race at Navan and came home well but won’t run for a while now as he has had a hard race there on heavy ground.

“He’ll get an entry for the three-mile novice hurdle (Albert Bartlett) at Cheltenham.”

Mouse Morris was thrilled with China Rock’s fourth place and said: “I’m delighted with him – the Hennessy Gold Cup is the plan, but we’ll have to wait and see how he is in the morning.”

Mullins’ Allure Of Illusion was unlucky in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle when badly hampered by a faller with half a mile to run and failing by a length to reel in Joxer, the 11-10 favourite ridden by Bryan Cooper.

Mullins’ seven-race unbeaten run in bumpers also came to an end when Robin Angevin could only finish fourth behind odds-on favourite The Mighty Milan.

Paul Nolan’s Carloswayback (11-4) looked a promising youngster but his career had been heading in the wrong direction before he returned to winning ways in the 49 Punchestown Hospitality Beginners Chase.

Robbie Power’s mount jumped soundly on his way to defeating Gates Of Rome by four lengths with Meade’s Fully Funded a disappointing third.

“We thought he was a good horse over hurdles but his form got progressively worse and his later runs were terrible,” said Nolan.

“He got a fall in a graded hurdle which looked a simple one at the time but didn’t turn out to be simple.

“He could go handicapping now but we could also look at a few novice chases because the big guns will be at Cheltenham and we’ll look at races here instead.”

Denis Hogan trained and rode Drive On Jim (8-1) to victory in the Racing UK Handicap Chase.

“The blinkers he had on today were actually a mistake as I meant to put cheekpieces on when I was declaring him – it’s a pity he isn’t entered in the Thyestes but we’ll find another nice staying chase for him soon,” said Hogan.