| Course: PUNCHESTOWN | Race date:22/04/08 | Race time:3:40 | Runners:9 |
| Race distance:2m | Going:Good | Winners time:4m 4.50s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twist Magic | R Walsh | P F Nicholls | 11-12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6/4F | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | ||
| Natal | A P McCoy | P F Nicholls | 11-12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 12/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | 1¾ | |
| Mansony | D N Russell | A L T Moore | 11-12 | 9 | 0 | 159 | 11/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | ½ | |
| Schindlers Hunt | B J Geraghty | D T Hughes | 11-12 | 8 | 0 | 161 | 4/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | ¾ | |
| Gemini Lucy | P W Flood | Mrs John Harrington | 11-7 | 8 | 0 | 143 | 11/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | 3 | |
| Don't Be Bitin | P Carberry | Eoin Griffin | 11-12 | 7 | 0 | 137 | 33/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | dist | |
| Fair Along | Richard Johnson | P J Hobbs | 11-12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | 12 | |
| Newmill | R M Power | John Joseph Murphy | 11-12 | 10 | 0 | 153 | 20/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8 | 22 | |
| Coolgreaney | T J Doyle | S J Treacy | 11-7 | 7 | 0 | 133 | 33/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | PU |
Twist Magic tracked leaders, slight mistake 2nd, led travelling well after 3 out, ridden 2 out, strongly pressed from last, kept on run-in
Natal chased leaders, 3rd 4 out, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, closed on winner before last, stayed on well run-in
Mansony held up in touch, ridden along in moderate 5th 3 out, no impression entering straight, 5th at last, stayed on well run-in
Schindlers Hunt tracked leaders, ridden in 4th 3 out, no impression before next, kept on from last
Gemini Lucy prominent, led from 4th, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on same pace straight
Don´t Be Bitin in rear, ridden and no impression from 4 out, soon behind and eased, tailed off
Fair Along prominent, led briefly 3rd, dropped to 4th next, no impression from 4 out, soon trailing, tailed off
Newmill led, headed from 3rd, weakened from 4 out, soon trailing, eased before 2 out, tailed off
Coolgreaney in rear, bad mistake 3rd, trailign from halfway, pulled up before 3 out
Apart from a blunder at the second fence, his jumping was perfectly adequate here and after being handy all the way he went to the front after three out. He had it put up to him in the closing stages but he stuck to his task and won all out.
Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "The tongue-tie worked today and the quicker ground also made a huge difference to him. If it's soft like it was at Cheltenham he has no chance. I was a bit disappointed with the way he looked before the race. Perhaps I'm just being over critical of myself, but I'm sure we can improvehim next season."
And Nicholls indicated that the winner could turn out again at Sandown on Saturday, "if he comes out of this race, fit and healthy".
Natal, a stablemate of the winner, produced his best effort to date. Up in grade here in search of a sixth win over fences, he had fallen in the Topham Chase on his previous start. Never far off the leaders, he went second under pressure before 2 out and closed on the winner nearing the last from where he kept on without quite getting on terms. "He's really only a handicapper but after that performance he could run in some of the good two-mile races and pick up some good prize money. He could start off in the Haldon Gold Cup," Nicholls said.
Schindlers Hunt had beaten Mansony into third place in a handicap at Fairyhouse last time. He too would have been happier on easier ground but he ran a solid race and after making headway before four out he kept on for pressure from two out having failed to make much impression before that fence.
Gemini Lucy, runningher last race before she heads for the paddocks, led from the fourth fence until headed after three out. She kept plugging away and ran a good race considering she was up against it at the weights.
Fair Along, in front when he fluffed the fourth fence, was soon back pedalling and was well out of contention before the end of the back straight. He finished tailed off and afterwards Richard Johnson commented: "He just got outpaced after the mistake and maybe he might be stepped up in distance next season."
Newmill, winner of this race two years ago in his Queen Mother Champion Chase-winning season, led to the third fence but was a spent force after five out and just does not seem to be the force he was. It is difficult to find any excuse for him, with the ground and trip in his favour here. (TOH)
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