In form jockey Davy Russell recorded his eighth winner of the new season when recording a double at Punchestown on Wednesday evening. The Cork jockey landed the At The Races Hurdle on Serve Time for Noel Glynn by a very impressive 11 lengths.
Bred by The Queen the Benny The Dip gelding was always travelling well under Russell and went clear before the final hurdle to be eased down near the finish. A trip to Ballybrit was earmarked by assistant trainer Jason Titley.
'He has improved a lot over the winter, he has grown up and is a lot sharper now. We will probably go for a winners of two now over two and a half miles and aim him towards a race at the Galway festival. The Galway hurdle would be a possibility as he is a horse with plenty of gears. He is schooled over fences and will just have a few more runs over hurdles first.'
Russell's first winner came when Keys Pride gave trainer Stephan Ryan his first winner since last years Galway festival when landing the Ireland For Horses Handicap hurdle. Carrying top weight the seven-year-old raced in mid division throughout before coming to press the leaders and jump the final flight in front. The mare stayed on well under Russell to score by two and a half lengths from Frontier Lady in second.
'It has been a hard year, I was nearly going to give up training horses, but thank God she done the business today' said a relieved winning trainer Stephen Ryan. 'She appreciated the good ground and hopefully she will take to jumping fences. But we will stay hurdling over two and a half miles for now as Davy said she done it well.'
Ruby Walsh proved to be an able deputy for the injured Niall Madden when he stepped in to land the Tote Members At Punchestown Handicap Chase aboard 2/1 shot Torrid Kentavr. The American bred 10-year-old in the colours of the White Owl Syndicate was always up with the leading group and went clear after the last scoring by four and a half lengths at the death. 11/8 favourite Anno Jubilo was back in third.
While England's Champion jockey Tony McCoy made his trip to the Co Kildare venue worth his while when steering his only mount of the evening Cool Running to victory in the Baroda Stud Beginners Chase. Winning for the first time since landing a maiden hurdle in 2005 the Christy Roche trained gelding took up the running four out alongside Whataboutya as the pair went clear from the remainder of the field.
The winner then went away from Whataboutya at the last to go on and score by four lengths. Winning trainer Christy Roche said, 'We might go to Killarney with him next week for a winners of one. It is nice to get off the mark with him over fences.'
Jessica Harrington and Andrew Leigh teamed up to land the opener on the card with 5/4 favourite Dreamy Gent. The five year old gelding in the colours of the Say Nothing Syndicate followed up on his good run last time out to give Leigh his first winner since claiming last years conditional title.
The winner was settled in behind the leaders and came to challenge Michael Halford's Harcas and Ruby Walsh two out before going clear after the last to record a four length victory.
'He is a fine big horse and goes on that ground. We will find a novice hurdle over two miles and he will jump a fence next season,' revealed Harrington.
General Wellington travelled smoothly throughout to touch off favourite Polar Call by three parts of a length in the three mile maiden hurdle. Trained by Charlie Swan the winner battled on gamely under David Casey to get off the mark under rules having previously winning a Point To Point.
'He won his Point To Point by a short head and he is a horse who just pulls up when he hits the front so David done very well on him. He is a nice horse with loads of ability and he will keep going over hurdles for now. It is possible he might jump a fence before the end of the summer.'
War Of The World with Pa King up landed the concluding bumper for Mouse Morris. Owned by Michael O Leary it was a first winner on the track for 19-year-old King, who looks like he could have a promising career ahead.
