Quinta Do Lago another festival winner for Harrington Having been amongst the winners on the opening day of the festival, trainer Jessica Harrington enjoyed further success as Quinta Do Lago landed the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle at Punchestown. Sent off a well supported 9/2 chance (from 8/1) under Donagh Meyler, the QDL Partnership owned gelding tracked the leaders before moving third after the penultimate flight. Travelling strongly into the straight, the four-year-old headed Riskaway on the run to the last. Begorra Man threw down a strong challenge over 200 yards out but Quinta Do Lago asserted on the run-in to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths. “We don’t have many national hunt horses now. I’d like a few more of them, we can still train them!” said Harrington. “He was bought at the Orby Sale to be a two-year-old and run in the ‘Million’ but it didn’t happen. “He was a backward three-year-old so we decided to keep him for an academy hurdle. I was determined if I was going to go for that I was going to win it. “Then he won his maiden hurdle here. He went to Cheltenham and finished fifth in the ‘Fred Winter’ and I’d say he’s only really coming to himself now. “I’d say what he really appreciated today was the step up in trip. He’s always been a strong stayer. “To give them time and patience is the hardest thing.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
