THERE was some instructive racing at a well-attended Punchestown on Saturday, though the day was marred by the promising young chaser Dance Beat breaking her off fore fetlock joint and pastern when in contention in the Craddockstown Novice Chase.
Naturally, trainer Jessica Harrington was anxious to save such a valuable mare for breeding but X-rays revealed that this year's Ladbroke Hurdle winner had broken her leg in 14 places and she had to be put down.
Space Trucker's emphatic success over compatriot Mystical City in the valuable Murphy's Draughtflow Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham gives Harrington a measure of compensation for the loss of Dance Beat. Had Just Little not fallen at the second last when going so well, the three Irish runners would surely have dominated the finish, as in the Galway Hurdle.
Indeed, I cannot recall when Galway Hurdle form has worked out so consistently well. Space Trucker remains in England and will run next either at Newbury or Newcastle.
Whether Dance Beat would have beaten Jeffell is now irrelevant. Arthur Moore's charge, who was travelling nicely when carried out at Navan on his previous outing, jumped well and galloped on. Clearly, the grey will do better chasing than over hurdles and in the absence of a suitable preliminary his next race will be Leopardstown's Dennys Gold Medal Novice Chase.
Charlie Swan, who rode Dance Beat, had mixed fortunes. After his prohibitively priced mount, Choosey's Treasure, could only finish third behind the Mark Roper-trained Broken Rites in the opening Cullens Gorse Hurdle, his mount Istabraq lost the Locks Restaurant Novice Hurdle by only a head to Noble Thyne, throwing away a winning chance when losing momentum after a last-flight blunder.
Noble Thyne, absent since April, will be the better for the race and trainer Paddy Mullins plans to run him in the £25,000 Avonmore Royal Bond Novice Hurdle over two miles at Fairyhouse next Monday, though by his own admission the good six-year-old would be better over two-and-a-half miles.
In spite of these setbacks, Swan gave Cockney Lad a confident ride to win the Morgiana Hurdle from stable-companion Hill Society. The winner should continue to do well in conditions hurdles. The seven-time champion then landed the Rathsallagh House Handicap Hurdle on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Antapoura, who got the better of Rathgibbon on rising to the last obstacle.
Graphic Equaliser could not have won the concluding Hatfield Race with more aplomb, but the favourite was disqualified for going the wrong side of a doll after four furlongs, as was the runner-up Coryrose, who committed the same error over four furlongs out.
Six to one chance Shannon Oak was awarded the race and the riders of the disqualified horses were suspended for seven days for continuing in the race.
