RACING:On a day of mixed fortunes for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, the pair combined to take the Festival Party Pack From 19 Maiden Hurdle with exciting French recruit Un De Sceaux at Punchestown yesterday.
A dual bumper winner in his homeland, the 9/10 favourite raced enthusiastically, jumped neatly and displayed a smart change of gear on the run-in to defeat Sammy Black by six lengths. Mullins said: “He has been doing that sort of work at home and is one I’ve been looking forward to getting out.
“He jumped well for a horse first time over hurdles, but he’s very hard on himself and we’ll see how he comes out of this before deciding where to go. He is certainly a nice addition to the team.”
The victory brought Walsh level with Davy Russell in the race for the jockeys’ title on 85 winners for the campaign.
Fatal fall
The Mullins-trained and Walsh-ridden Apt Approach, a Grade Two winner over fences, suffered a fatal fall as 7/4 shot Dressedtothenines claimed the Festival Any Day Flexi-Ticket Hurdle for Eddie Harty and Niall Madden.
Walsh had earlier suffered a suspected broken nose when parting company with Mullins’ Andiamos on the way to the start for the opening race.
Aidan O’Brien’s first National Hunt runners in well over eight years failed to land a blow in the AES Family Saturday At The Festival INH Flat Race.
The master of Ballydoyle is no stranger to the jumping game, having trained the incredible Istabraq to win three Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham.
O’Brien saddled two runners in the Punchestown bumper, with Egyptian Warrior a particularly fascinating contender due to him being a full-brother to last year’s Racing Post Trophy scorer and Epsom Derby favourite Kingsbarns.
However, after making some headway from the back of the field in the hands of the trainer’s daughter, Sarah, he was ultimately well beaten in fifth. Stable companion Shield (10/1), partnered by Kate Harrington finished one place ahead of Egyptian Warrior in fourth. The race was won by Garrett Power-trained newcomer Yes Sir Brian (20/1).
McManus swoops
Meanwhile, Wyck Hill, ante-post favourite for the Racing Plus Chase, will race in the green and gold colours of owner JP McManus for the first time at Kempton on Saturday.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National entry will stay in training with David Bridgwater.
Bridgwater owned a substantial share of the nine-year-old and had fielded several big offers since Wyck Hill beat the progressive Katenko at Ascot in December.“The deal is complete now, it’s all done and dusted,” Bridgwater said.
