Maher looking for more Bishopscourt success

The KFM-sponsored Bishopscourt Cup is the opening race on day four of the Punchestown Festival and the race, which dates back to the 1830s, continues to attract plenty of attention beyond its Kildare fan base.

The hunters' chase is confined to horses which are the property of farmers currently farming land in the Kildare Hunt District area, the only such race in Ireland.

Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Peter Maher runs three horses in this year's renewal and is hopeful of adding to his 2013 win with Johnies Star.

Maher's small string of horses have already claimed wins at all the big festivals of Cheltenham, Punchestown and Galway.

He said: "Big Shu has been my golden hen, but don't forget I trained my first winner aged 16 and had a Galway festival winner in a seven-furlong 16-runner handicap before Big Shu came along.

"We're always buying and selling but this year we've three for the race so it won't be from the lack of trying anyway. The race means everything to us around here and has a big following. As long as one of mine wins, I don't care which one does!"

Enniskillen was unlucky in the Ladies Cup on the opening race of the festival on Tuesday and Maher added: "He'd probably have won by two furlongs if I'd have given the right instructions.

"If I'd have told him (jockey Roger Quinlan) to sit fifth or sixth instead of being in the first two or three, he wouldn't have been able to jump his way into the lead. I'm pretty certain he'd have won if he hadn't run off the bend.

"He made a mistake when he got back into contention but his race was run at that stage. I thought he'd have been home and hosed but after running off the bend, he should have been pulled up. Hindsight is a great thing."

Maher also runs Johnies Star and Mtada Supreme.

He said: "Johnies Star only does enough and pulls up when he gets to the front. However, he's in great nick and won the race last year so has to have his chance.

"Mtada Supreme is the class act but the race is probably a bit short for him. He looked flat out against James the last day and while there isn't much between my three, I might sway towards Mtada Supreme if I had to pick. All three of my horses are in great nick and are all fit and well."

Regarding Big Shu, winner of the 2013 Cross-Country Chase at Cheltenham and La Touche Cup at Punchestown, he said: "I entered him in the Irish Field Chase on Saturday in case it rained, but that looks unlikely now and he is a doubtful runner."

By Thomas Weekes