Racing: Refinement benefited from a superbly timed Tony McCoy ride to spring a surprise in an eventful renewal of the Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown.
Refinement benefited from a superbly timed Tony McCoy ride to spring a surprise in an eventful renewal of the Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown.
McCoy punched the 16-1 mare into the lead after the final flight and the Jonjo O'Neill-trained runner powered away to record a two-and-a-half-length verdict over 20-1 chance Powerstation.
United claimed third at 16-1, but Brave Incadisappointed on his first attempt at three miles and Mighty Manpulled up injured before the penultimate flight when leading the race.
Henry Daly's impressive Aintree winner Mighty Man had made just about all the running until that point, and while Richard Johnson had yet to ask him for everything, the challengers were queueing up in behind.
As Mighty Man dropped through the field, Michael O'Brien's strong-travelling Essex briefly took over before Powerstation delivered a strong challenge in the home straight.
The eventual runner-up grabbed the lead before the last, but McCoy had the move covered and brought his mount with a strong run to take over soon after touching down.
United, fourth in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham, again ran well but had to settle for third after her run flattened out close home.
Besides the incident involving Mighty Man, Punchestown punters will have been dismayed by the no show of Colm Murphy's ever-popular Brave Inca.
Ruby Walsh was shovelling on the coal some way from home, but the teak-tough nine-year-old had little response and never threatened to get involved.
McCoy said of Refinement: "She has had a slightly disappointing season, but she ran better at Aintree last time and her trainer has done a magnificent job to keep her in good form throughout the year.
"To keep a mare going for all this time and then to win a Grade One is a fantastic achievement. She is idle and has her own ideas, but when I gave her a smack coming off the bend she has picked up and won nicely.
Johnson said of Mighty Man: "He broke down on his off-fore and I had been niggling for four flights before that. I've never had to do that as he is such a trier and he would have gone on until he fell into the ground.
"The ground was perfect, it is just an injury that could have happened anywhere. The owner treats him like a child and he will get the best of attention. It happened before we really got racing."
Murphy said of Brave Inca: "It has been a long year and I
wouldn't read too much into that. He's had a lot of hard races and
that could have been one race too many."
Spot Thedifferencemaintained Enda Bolger's
exceptional record in the La Touche Cup with a thrilling victory in
the Avon Ri Corporate & Leisure Resort-sponsored marathon at
Punchestown today.
Bolger was winning the unique contest for the 10th successive year as his popular 14-year-old gelding proved too streetwise for his opponents to justify favouritism at 7/4.
Bolger said: "I was hopeful coming here, but these are novelty races and anything can happen. He had a good man on board though and he has plenty of stamina, which is the main thing.
"I was worried at one stage when he was so far back, but the banks slow horses down and once he got into fourth place and was finishing I thought he would be there at the end.
"Spot has been a great horse for me. He might be 14-years-old, but he loves being in training and he loves people - apart from vets - so I don't see why we should stop with him."
Punjabigained a deserved Grade One success in the Ballymore Properties Champion 4-Y-O Hurdle - but had to fight hard to see off the persistent challenge of Financial Reward.
Nicky Henderson's 6-4 favourite acquitted himself with great credit at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals but ultimately came up short behind impressive youngster Katchit.
Taking advantage of the absence of Alan King's star, Punjabi was always travelling smoothly and ranged upsides the eventual runner-up on the approach to the penultimate flight.
Lord Killucanhad(11/10f) earlier got punters off to a flying start on day three of the festival when making all for an easy success in the KFM Hunters Chase for the Bishopscourt Cup.
Today's results
2.15pm
1st Lord Killucan 11/10
2nd Gleneric 12/1
3rd Extended Favour 7/2
2.50pm
1st Spot Thedifference 7/4
2nd Freneys Well 9/1
3rd Star Performance 10/1
3.30pm
1st Punjabi 6/4
2nd Financial Reward 8/1
3rd Bahrain Storm 5/1
4.05pm
1st Another Promise 5/1.
2nd Royal Shakespeare 7/1
3rd Carthalawn (IRE) 20/1
4.40pm
1st Refinement 16/1
2nd Powerstation 20/1
3rd United 16/1
4th Essex 5/1