Racing history was made on day three of the Festival with Paul Carberry partnering his 100th winner of the season, and Risk Of Thunder landing the La Touche Cup for the seventh time, writes Alan Magee.
Carberry joined Charlie Swan in the elite group of National Hunt jockeys to record 100 winners in an Irish season when giving Moratorium a typically patient ride to take the Sean Barrett Bloodstock Insurances Handicap Hurdle.
Fiery King set a furious pace in this two miles event, and Carberry produced the Noel Meade-trained gelding to lead at the final flight for a three lengths success over Cailin`s Perk.
"He`s something else, and you get a buzz just watching him!" commented Meade of his stable jockey afterwards.
He added: "The fast gallop was a big help to Moratorium. It took a long time to teach him how to jump, but he was more professional today than ever before. He needs good ground, and we put cotton wool in his ears to block out the noise as he tends to get a bit fizzed up. The Galway Hurdle is a possible target over the summer, although I`m sure JP (McManus) will have a few others for that."
Carberry wasted no time adding to his tally as Limestone Lad made all to take the Kevin McManus Bookmakers Champion Stayers` Hurdle in great style. The ten-year-old recorded his 30th career win in this three miler, and was eased right down on the run-in to beat Bob Justice by six lengths.
"That`s a relief as it is so hard to assess his level of fitness. He takes an incredible amount of work, twice as much as any other horse and he also eats twice as much," said Michael Bowe, who added, "He seems to be improving with age and, although he acts on that ground, you don`t like to risk him on it too often. He only needs to run once more on the Flat to get a handicap rating, and I would like to have a go at one of the long distance handicaps with him."
Risk Of Thunder became the first horse to win the same race seven times in Ireland when just holding the challenge of Ballyday Dazy in the Quinns Of Baltinglass Chase for the La Touche Cup. The Enda Bolger-trained 13-year-old was never far off the pace and, after leading inside the final mile of this marathon test, just held off the late surge of Ballyday Dazy by a neck.
The Sean Connery-owned winner was whisked away quickly from the parade ring, with connections eager to keep him on the move due to an oxygen deficiency. Bolger announced afterwards that the bank`s specialist will now be retired, and he received a great reception from the crowd when paraded in the enclosure later in the day.
The Event Centre At Punchestown Champion Four Year Old Hurdle was the feature race of the afternoon, and here Quazar notched up the first British success at the meeting. Jonjo O`Neill`s charge burst through between horses approaching the last, and stayed on well to deny the fast-finishing Newhall by half a length. The placings remained unaltered after a stewards enquiry.
"He likes all the hustle andbustle of a race like this. Things went pretty well for him today, and he really loves his racing," said a delighted O`Neill.
Moscow Flyer `had stones in hand` according to rider Barry Geraghty when easily justifying odds of 2/5 in the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase. Jessica Harrington`s Arkle Chase winner was sent on before four out and, after getting in a bit close to the second last, stretched clear to beat Mantles Prince by seven lengths.
"The Champion Chase is obviously the main target next season, and I would like to give him a run here before going over for the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December," said Mrs Harrington afterwards.