Punchestown Results Sun, 18th Nov, 2018

See also » Sharjah puts Faugheen to the sword
The other two (Faugheen and Tombstone) took each other on in front and maybe galloped each other into the ground. Paul took advantage of that. He (Sharjah) wants a sharp two miles. He's done a lot for the season and I don't know if I'm going to go on with him now or not. I may give him a little break and come back in the spring but after doing that today it looks like we'll have to go to Christmas with him. We'll see how he is when he comes out of this race. He's had no break between Flat racing and the Galway Hurdle and everything. Paul said he came alive going down the back stretch today, and he thought that far out that he had a great chance of winning. He disappointed in Down Royal the last day but he was taken on in front. Faugheen missed two or three hurdles. I would have expected him to find a bit more but he didn't. The two in front just collapsed. The decision is made to stay hurdling and I think we'll just go out in trip as we had intended. His first run was supposed to be the Hatton's Grace but when Melon didn’t work well enough we put this fella in. We've swapped targets for them. W P Mullins, trainer

The Stewards interviewed Gordon Elliott, trainer, in relation to the reason offered (ground) and the late withdrawal (12.46 p.m) for his charge Samcro. Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned who stated that he had walked the track yesterday evening and again prior to racing today. He complimented the work that had gone into watering the track but reached his decision on the grounds that the going was quicker when racing down the hill and again when leaving the back straight. In his opinion the warm temperature today was causing the ground to dry and while he was very keen to run, he felt that the withdrawal of Samcro was in the horses best interests. He confirmed that Samcro was present at the track. In view of the reasons given, the Stewards accepted the explanation

Owing to the low elevation of the sun, the Stewards granted permission for hurdles # 4 & 5 to be omitted from this race

A hurdle race for four yrs old and upwards
Weights - 4-y-o 11st 7lb; 5-y-o and up 11st 10lb; Mares allowed 7lb