More Academy joy for Cromwell and Sexton Gavin Cromwell and Kevin Sexton teamed up to land an Academy Hurdle for the second time in a matter of days as Lunar Stride took the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Academy Hurdle at Punchestown. The Ghaiyyath gelding was patiently ridden before making headway after the penultimate flight to lead at the last and the 5/2 shot drew clear on the run-in to beat Juarileo by four and three-quarter lengths. The 5/4 favourite Green Heritage couldn’t find any extra from before the last finishing a further four and a half lengths back in third. Cromwell said, “He's a grand simple straightforward horse. Obviously he had plenty of schooling done at home and he did it nicely. “They probably went steady enough and then they quickened it after three out. Kevin said he always thought that he was going to get there.” Cromwell and Sexton also struck with Plumton Queen in a similar event at Cork on Sunday. Quotes by John O'Riordan
