| Course: PUNCHESTOWN | Race date:25/04/08 | Race time:4:20 | Runners:6 |
| Race distance:2m | Going:Good | Winners time:3m 53.30s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punjabi | B J Geraghty | N J Henderson | 11-12 | 5 | 164 | 0 | 2/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | ||
| Sublimity | P A Carberry | John G Carr | 11-12 | 8 | 161 | 165 | 15/8F | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | 3 | |
| Ebaziyan | D J Condon | W P Mullins | 11-12 | 7 | 156 | 152 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | 5 | |
| Harchibald | P Carberry | Noel Meade | 11-12 | 9 | 155 | 161 | 11/4 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | 2½ | |
| Kalderon | D J Casey | T Hogan | 11-12 | 8 | 148 | 147 | 14/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | 5½ | |
| Salford City | Miss N Carberry | Gordon Elliott | 11-12 | 7 | 130 | 141 | 20/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 18 |
Disappointingly, this turned into a somewhat inadequate contest, for while PUNJABI received a perfect ride from Barry Geraghty, the jockeys on both Sublimity and Harchibald were not seen at their best. In a race run at a generous but not crazy gallop, Philip Carberry on Sublimity and Paul Carberry on Harchibald both confusingly decided to allow Punjabi a lead of five lengths, which neither of the brothers seemed in the least bit keen to reduce until after the penultimate flight had been jumped. However, by then, the winner had gone beyond recall. For Punjabi, this was a win well deserved. Racing here for only the fourth time this season, he came to Ireland a fresh horse and an improving one as well, having carried top weight into second in the Totesport Trophy before his excellent Champion Hurdle third. Already proven at this track having bagged a substandard Champion Four Year Old Hurdle last season, Nicky Henderson's charge displayed excellent tactical speed and, once put to sleep by Geraghty, responded to every one of his rider's calls. A final-flight mistake came too late to stop him and, as hard as Sublimity tried in the closing stages, Punjabi was never going to be caught.
Punjabi is, like Cheltenham hero Katchit, only a second-season five-year-old, and, as such, further improvement next season has to be expected. If it comes, he would hold genuine claims come Cheltenham next March, and the best-priced 14-1 offered by Boylesports is perfectly fair, as, indeed, is William Hill’s low quote of 10-1. Even so, an ante-post wager at this stage makes little appeal.
Ebaziyan has had a distinctly uninspiring season and has in no way built on his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle victory. However, a few of his runs have highlighted that he does retain ability, and this was one of them, although he, too, was given an awful lot todo. His running style would suit French racing, so he would be a fascinating contender if sent by Willie Mullins for the French Champion Hurdle.
Harchibald’s connections cannot have been overly optimistic going into the race given the overnight watering and morning rain that followed. Ground conditions had been blamed for Harchibald's Champion Hurdle flop and, although he ran better here, he was never a factor. Paul Carberry has invariably ridden the horse from off the pace, so his tactics were less surprising than those used on Sublimity, and, in Harchibald's case, he would not have won under any circumstances. The second-half of his season has been disappointing and he becomes ever harder to get his head in front.
Kalderon and Salford City were always likely to be outclassed and they were. Kalderon is a smart horse but not good enough to win a proper Grade 1 contest, while Salford City is a novice a little shy of the very best and, having already run oncehere this week, his task was huge. [LM]
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