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Kilbunny Pontic wins but may be off to stud

Kilbunny Pontic is left clear by the fall of Which Robin
Kilbunny Pontic is left clear by the fall of Which Robin
© Photo Healy Racing

Point-to-point and bumper winner Kilbunny Pontic justified 13/8 favouritism in the mares' maiden hurdle but may have run her last race.

Having tracked the leader Champagnesocialist throughout, she went past that one after the second-last but was pressed at the last by 125/1 outsider Which Robin The latter came down at that final flight leaving the David O'Brien-trained mare to come home two and a quarter lengths ahead of Champagnesocialist with the pair well clear of the remainder.

Sean Flanagan, who was completing a double after First Dare in the opener, quickly dismounted from the winner who was later loaded onto the horse ambulance.

Flanagan later reported: “She’s overreached and cut her tendon. She has a nice pedigree and she’ll be fine to go breeding.

“She won a bumper and a point-to-point and is a classy enough mare. She’s very hardy and has galloped all the way to the line.

“I jumped and travelled well. I was anxious that they were trying to steady it up at a few stages and I made sure the pace kept up as she stays really well. Jumping was her forte really — she is very good to jump.”

Quotes from Alan Magee

About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.