A total of 141 horses contested the seven races at Punchestown today where Michael Phillips' Your Almost There finally lost his maiden status when easily landing the April Festival Maiden Hurdle.
David Russell's mount had faded badly when looking the likely winner on a few occasions in the past and Phillips later joked 'after Naas the last day we were thinking of renaming him!' He added 'he was sick for 14 months before this season and he's a real chaser in the making'
Pierce Hurdle fourth Steel Band was the well backed winner (5/2 - 2/1) of the 2m handicap hurdle. Partnered by David Roche, brother of the winning trainer Paul, the winner stayed on well from the home turn to defeat Selous Scout by four lengths.
Paul Roche later commented 'He ran badly at Thurles on his last start but has run badly there a few times in the past. We'll try to find another race like this with him again. David gave him a fine ride.'
Trainer John Queally, already successful at Cheltenham last November, has a novice handicap chase at Haydock in mind for his Where Now (16/1) after the gelding landed the 2m6f beginners' chase under John Cullen. Queally stated 'we had him entered for Haydock this Saturday but he will probably go for a winners' of two race there in a few weeks time.'
Favourite Liscannor Lad and second favourite Jack High both parted company with their jockeys in the race.
The opening maiden hurdle looked a one horse race on paper and proved just that with 1/3 favourite Poachin Again easily defeating 24 rivals under Conor O'Dwyer.
Winning trainer Arthur Moore later stated 'he did it as we hoped he would. He'll go for another hurdle in Thurles in three weeks time but is a real chaser in the making.'
Top weight Brave Eagle (6/1 - 3/1) was the well backed winner of the 3m handicap hurdle for trainer Pat Kelly and jockey Philip Carberry while Daisy Duggan gave Native Beat a fine ride to win the 2m6f handicap chase for trainer John Fowler.
Gifted Approach, despite galloping loose on the way to post, won the concluding bumper under a brilliantly judged Derek O'Connor ride. The grey daughter of Roselier was keeping up the amazing winning strike rate of trainer John Kiely.
