Racing:Davy Russell employed some effective front-running tactics to inflict a shock defeat on odds-on favourite Forpadydeplasterer at Punchestown. The conditions of the Grade Three Star "Best For Racing Coverage" Chase vastly favoured Tom Cooper's charge, and Forpadydeplasterer was duly made the 4-11 favourite.
However, Russell was keen to assume control from the off aboard 11-4 shot Roi Du Mee, with Forpadydeplasterer hunting round in second and Jadanli back in third. The pace turned up a notch three fences from home when Forpadydeplasterer made a mistake which handed the initiative firmly to Roi Du Mee.
The market leader was always struggling after that and Russell just had to keep the Gordon Elliott-trained Roi Du Mee up to his task to cruise home by 16 lengths. Russell said: “I was always happy. I rode him the other morning and felt he’d improved from last season.
“He just lobbed along there today — it was very straightforward. Gordon indicated before that he’s thinking of going for the Nicholson race (JNwine.com Champion Chase) in Down Royal.”
Cooper offered no excuse for his charge’s lacklustre effort, but thought he may have just needed the race having been off the track since being pulled up in the rearranged King George VI Chase at Kempton in January.
He said: “He guessed at a few fences and I wouldn’t say the trip was an issue. He was rusty more than anything which isn’t surprising given that he’s basically been off for 11 months. His run in the King George was a non-event.
“I wouldn’t rule out the race in Down Royal but my feeling is that a drop in trip and better ground is what he wants.”
Rider Barry Geraghty added: “He was beaten too early for the trip to have been an issue and you can’t beat match practice.”
Russell had earlier been on the mark with Noel Meade’s Italian Group Three winner Il Fenomeno (15-8 joint-favourite) in the Buy Your 2012 Annual Badge Maiden Hurdle.
Meade said: “He was bought at the Arc sale last year. We didn’t want to win an ordinary race last season with him and lose his novice status. We took a shot at some good races with him.
“We think he’s a nice horse, he’s been very genuine and straight-up at home in everything he’s done. Davy said he fought for him well. He’s come back with a bit of a cut, but hopefully it’s not too serious. He was probably a bit fresh and got a bit of a knock at the first I’d say.”
Steps To Freedom is in line for a crack at the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle after landing the Grade Three Ryan’s Cleaning Events Specialists Hurdle. Winner of a Fairyhouse maiden event last month, the Jessica Harrington-trained Steps To Freedom was sent off the 11-8 favourite for this two-mile event.
Jockey Robbie Power was cruising on the five-year-old two flights from home and while he rather fluffed those obstacles, Steps To Freedom came home a comfortable length-and-a-quarter winner from Sailors Warn.
Connections had to survive a stewards’ inquiry as the first two got close in the finish, but Steps To Freedom was soon confirmed as the winner.
Cooper had enjoyed better fortune as Lucky William overpowered his rivals in the Buck House Novice Chase. Shinrock Paddy and Rathlin dominated the market but both looked in need of the run with the latter folding tamely a way from home while Shinrock Paddy plugged on in the straight.
Lucky William (9-2) was always going well and rider Bryan Cooper kicked on at the second-last, with Whodoyouthink going with him. Cooper had much more up his sleeve and Lucky William galloped away by a length and a quarter with De Valira back in third.