RACING: PUNCHESTOWN REPORT AND PREVIEW:CAPTAIN CHRIS completed a rare double at Punchestown yesterday evening when a narrow defeat of Realt Dubh in the Ryanair Chase confirmed the Grade One festival pedigree of the Richard Johnson-Philip Hobbs team.
The English combination has a history of securing top-flight victories here with Flagship Uberalles in the 2003 Champion Chase and Plant Of Sound in last year’s Gold Cup among a list of Punchestown successes. Moscow Flyer in 2002 was the previous horse to win the Arkle at Cheltenham and then proceed to complete the double at Punchestown but Captain Chris had to work a lot harder yesterday to pull off the same feat.
Realt Dubh had finished third in the Arkle, and landed another Grade One prize at Fairyhouse just 11 days previously, but he made the favourite pull out all the stops in a rousing finish up the straight.
“We had to run because his novice days are over and I’m very proud of him,” said the Irish horse’s trainer Noel Meade.
However, Captain Chris emerged best to become just the second British-trained winner of the week and although Hobbs is unsure about his stamina, some bookmakers saw enough yesterday to make the seven-year-old an 8 to 1 shot for December’s King George at Kempton. “I’m half-thinking of the King George at three miles but we don’t know about the trip,” he said.
On a day dominated by Quevega, Burn And Turn was another mare to impress as she routed her opposition to the tune of nine lengths in the concluding bumper. Trainer Jessica Harrington had endured a torrid week up to now with Roberto Goldback falling at the last in Wednesday’s Gold Cup, and her two Guineas runners at Newmarket last weekend failing to fire. “Our luck has finally changed,” she said.
Prince Of Pirates started a warm favourite to also score for the visitors in the opening conditions hurdle but Nicky Henderson’s runner was never seen with a shout behind the 16 to 1 winner Tornedo Shay.
“That was there in him all the time. It was just his jumping that stopped him. He didn’t have the confidence or fluency over two miles and the extra half mile has made the difference,” said his trainer Thomond O’Mara.
After four miles plus, and over 30 cross-country obstacles, just a short head separated Another Jewel and Let The Show Begin at the end of the La Touche Cup with John Cullen’s Another Jewel emerging best in a thrilling finish.
