Blazing Sky wins in a canter

Racing:   Blazing Sky cruised to success under Paddy Flood in the Total Event Rental Mares Hurdle at Punchestown.

Racing:  Blazing Sky cruised to success under Paddy Flood in the Total Event Rental Mares Hurdle at Punchestown.

The 8-13 favourite defeated mares of the calibre of Brogella and Celestial Wave in the race 12 months ago but there was nothing of that class in the field this year.

Frank McGuinness' seven-year-old was brought to the front with half a mile to run and won by an eased-down seven lengths from Amber Trix.

"It probably wasn't as good a race as last year," admitted McGuinness.

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"But she needed that because she had more weight this time. She had muscle problems all last year but we put her out in summer and she came back right after that.

"If she comes out of this well she will go to Down Royal for a mares race there.  I would love to go Cheltenham with her for the new mares race but that is a long way off."

Coolgreaney took advantage of a last-fence fall by Montana Bay to win the Visa International Asia Pacific Novice Chase.

The 6-4 favourite Rindoon set off in his accustomed front-running role but blew up with half a mile to run.

Michael O'Brien's Montana Bay, who had disappointed on his first start over fences two weeks ago, eased into the lead and had the race sewn up.

But he met the final obstacle all wrong and tipped up.

The Ruby Walsh-ridden Coolgreaney (9-2), trained by Sean Treacy, took full advantage to beat Medicinal by 12 lengths.

"It's a case of the old adage 'if you're not in you don't win'," said Treacy.  "She was definitely lucky at the last as the other looked like the winner.

"The plan was to sit and ride her for third for a bit of black type, anything other than that was a bonus and that is how it worked out.

"We would have been delighted with second but now she's a winner of a Grade Three, which will do nicely for her at the paddocks."