18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure

Pencil picks up to open hurdling account in style

Pencilfulloflead and Robbie Power Pencilfulloflead and Robbie Power
© Photo Healy Racing

Pencilfulloflead quickened away in good style on the run-in to open his hurdling account in the Leinster Leader Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown.

The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding had bumped into the impressive Asterion Forlonge on his debut over timber at Naas early last month.

Sent to post a 4/6 shot today he tracked the leaders early in the two-mile-six contest before Robbie Power took close order on his mount over the fifth last.

The Shantou gelding had a narrow lead at the penultimate flight and kicked for home turning in.

Having run around a touch approaching the final flight he was a bit untidy at it but picked up when asked on the run-in to stretch clear for a 12-length win.

Elliott was recording a double, following the earlier win of Run Wild Fred and he said:-

“He’s a proper big staying chaser is what he is and what he was bought to be. Robert said he’s just a bit mentally immature the way he jumps. He could be better over a fence. 

 

“It’s nice that he got his head in front. He's our first horse for Brian (Acheson). 

 

“He’s a big baby. He’ll stay at home and we’ll keep him for something small and see how we go.” 

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.