Policy hangs on for slim success Patience paid off with Private Policy as he clung on for a gritty success in the first division of the three-mile handicap hurdle at Punchestown. The Nigel Slevin-trained gelding was soon prominent under Paddy Cleary in the 0-100 contest and the 16/1 shot fought it out with Sheer Raz turning for home. Having gotten the measure of that rival on the run-in he then had to hold the late charge of Illtakehimmyself, with just a short-head to spare at the line. “It was top class. I sourced the horse myself. He had an injury and it’s taken a while to get him to where we are at,” said owner Darren Byrne afterwards. “Without the help of Nigel Slevin and his wife Judith I would have been nowhere, they are great people. I ride him out most days. “It’s a great result and it’s a family affair, I have three kids. “One of my good friends Charlie Flattery kept him on his farm for me during the summer and his son got him going for me doing a lot of the road work. “Credit goes to him for doing the work in the early days and then it was between myself and Nigel. “This is amazing. My kids were so excited telling everyone in school today. I fancied him myself, I couldn’t see him beat. “He had a wind operation before his last run. I had a horse before that had a wind-op and she went close the first day and won the next day. He’s after doing the same thing. “I was quietly confident coming here, especially back up at three miles. “It’s about the memories that you make and I was roaring from the second last. That’s what you are paying for, something to shout about.”
