Lucky Pat soars over the last in Punchestown© Photo Healy Racing
Lucky Pat was in the box seat to take the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle by the scruff of the neck when Erlkonig fell at the second last.
Erlkonig took off early for the second last and as he fell he brought down Vive La France David Mullins and Lucky Pat found themselves with a two length lead over the favourite Seeyouallincoppers who had crept into contention.
On the turn in for the home straight, Lucky Pat (9/2) travelled nicely while Seyouallincoppers was being pushed along by Jack Kennedy. Eight Till Late was hard ridden in third by Andrew Lynch. Misty Lady and Shutter Island raced in fourth and fifth respectively, with their jockeys hard at work.
Kennedy got after Seeyouallincoppers approaching the final flight but he still had two lengths to overcome.
The 2/1 favourite worked hard on the run-in and closed to within half a length but that was as near as he got. It was eight and a half lengths back to Eight Till Late (5/1) in third.
"The light weight helped despite it being a better grade and David rode him to perfection," trainer Dot Love said.
"He needs to get a little bit of a toe into it. I don't know if he would have beaten the faller but he had to go and do it himself after that and he did it which is great."
Assistant trainer Ciaran Murphy added: "It was a competitive handicap and we're delighted. The 5lb helped and he's a class rider too.
"At the start of the year the plan was the Galway Hurdle if he could get into it and that's probably realistic after that. Today confirmed he probably deserves his place.
"He'll be some horse over a fence but there is a nice handicap hurdle in him and we'll see what he can do before jumping a fence."
David Mullins brought up his double on Lucky Pat, having landed the opener on Savello
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
