Racing:Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty took the honours on the final day of the Punchestown Festival with a 235-1 treble — highlighted by Grandouet's win in the AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle. Grandouet had been well fancied for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March but could only finish third.
He had finished behind Dermot Weld’s Unaccompanied at Cheltenham and subsequently she had beaten St Nicholas Abbey on the level, which resulted in her being sent off the 11-10 favourite. She never appeared to be travelling with her usual zest this time though, and could finish only fourth.
Geraghty, meanwhile, always looked confident and let the 5-2 chance coast clear to beat Kumbeshwar by nine lengths.
“He deserved that for his consistency, honesty and above all his jumping,” Henderson said. “We always thought that Aintree was more his track than Cheltenham but he was brought down there.
“It can be tough for a four-year-old to run in three festivals but he always looked like he would win today. We have all summer to think of plans but Barry suggests going chasing. There’s a thing called Hurricane Fly to worry about if we stay hurdling.”
Bellvano had earlier bounced back to winning ways in the Madra Irish Dog Food Novice Chase. Racing over fences for only the second time, Geraghty faced a stiff challenge from Montan and Ruby Walsh and the pair jumped the last together.
The 7-2 favourite dug deep, however, and prevailed by by a length and three-quarters with Philip Hobbs’ Keki Buku third.
“He is still a novice for next season in England and still has a fair bit to learn. He went nicely to sleep today as he can be a bit keen,” said Henderson. “We will go quietly with him and not go for anything fancy yet. He is a top-of-the-ground horse and Barry said that ground was as slow as he would need it.”
Shakalakaboomboom (14-1) was a thrilling winner of the Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase. Having taken up the running some way out, he looked a sitting duck for the favourite Beautiful Sound in the straight. Despite a monumental error at the last, Geraghty galvanised his mount to win by the shortest of short heads.
“It’s terrific to round off the season like this,” added Henderson. “It was a terrifically brave effort having come back from eating grass at the last. He’ll be out in the grass next week!”
To top off the day for Henderson, he also bagged the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock for the second successive year with Eradicate.
Peter Fahey has not been training long but he looks to have a decent performer in Shop Dj (7-1) after she waltzed away with the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association Fillies Scheme EBF Mares Hurdle.
Third in a valuable event at Newbury and also in a Grade Two at Fairyhouse last time out, Davy Russell took up the running turning into the straight and drew clear to win by 13 lengths.
“It’s great to get this big win. She has been knocking on the door all year,” said Fahey “We kept her fresh after Fairyhouse and it paid off today. I couldn’t believe how far she won today. That’s her ground. She’ll go over fences next season.”
Freneys Well won the Irish Field Chase at Punchestown for the third successive year but he was a fortunate victor in an eventful race. Enda Bolger’s charge looked booked for second as Theroadtocroker went clear approaching the last.
However, Denis Murphy’s representative, who ran out in Tuesday’s Perpetual Cup when holding every chance, spectacularly crashed out at the final fence to subject his connections to another disappointment.
Bolger said: “It was hard luck on the Murphy horse but Nina was in the right place at the right time.
“We will try to repeat the dose again next year.”