Paddy Flood has nominated Punchestown Racecourse as ‘probably the best chase track

he has ever ridden anywhere in the world’ after the John Durkan Chase this weekend.

Speaking on Irishracing.com’s Irish Angle show this week, the former jockey went into detail

about the John Durkan Chase and how the track played a big factor in the exceptional winning performance of Gaelic Warrior.

Paddy explained how the winner’s exuberance in the way he travelled and jumped was aided by the racecourse and the way it allows horses to race.

“He did the same in his beginners around Punchestown, and to be fair, Punchestown is

probably the best chase track I've ever ridden anywhere in the world.

“It lends a rider to get breathers in at the right time. So if he was going to be able to do it anywhere, it would be there.

“Right-handed suited them as well, it was just a spectacle of two proper Grade One

horses, big-engine horses, and a race to the line. The crowd there was amazing.

“I thought that was a great ride by Paul. I thought Mark gave his horse the perfect, perfect

ride.

“And for all my money turning in and jumping the second last, he was the winner. And

just after the last, Gaelic Warrior stuck in again.

“I thought he was going to win a length, and then Mark's horse picked up and went again. So it was exceptional.”

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