Colla Pier comes through to lead at the last under Jack Kennedy© Photo Healy Racing
Colla Pier landed a bit of a touch as she ran out a good winner of the opener at Punchestown, the Irish Daily Mirror Handicap Hurdle.
Available at 10/1 last night the Paddy Mooney trained six-year-old opened on-course at 8's before going off a 13/2 chance.
Second in a Grade 3 contest at Down Royal on her last start, the daughter of Hawk Wing was settled in mid-division by Jack Kennedy.
She travelled well in fifth entering the straight and jumped to the front at the last, keeping on well from there to score by three and three parts of a length. Wes Hardin (14/1) finished second under Ger Fox for Noel Meade while top-weight Bentelimar (4/1) was a further neck back in third under Brian O'Connell for Shay Barry. Ordinary World was sent off the well-supported 7/2 favourite (from 11/2 last night and from 4's on-course) and he could only manage a disappointing eighth under Jonathan Burke for Henry De Bromhead.
Paddy Mooney said afterwards: "I thought the ground had gone on her but she handled that well.
"I'm delighted. Jack gave her a great ride, she jumped great and came home well.
"She has a bit of a wind problem and the soft ground can catch her out a bit. We'll look for another handicap now if the handicapper isn't too hard on us.
"That was a much better performance than last time. She finished a bit dead in the north and was lucky to get to the line.
"She has a bit of toe from the Flat, as she won over 1m 2f, and she's slick over her hurdles which helps."
STEWARDS REPORT
R. Walsh, rider of Rupert Lamb (GB), trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount missed the second last hurdle.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
