The first race on Haydock’s Saturday card was the Grade 2 Newton Novices Hurdle and was won by 12/1 chance Diamond Hunter trained by Chris Gordon and ridden by his son Freddie. The winner followed up his debut victory of a Plumpton novice hurdle in good style and took the step up in class in his stride.
The next race of real interest was the Graduation Chase which saw The Jukebox Man reappear after a lay off. Not seen for eleven months after taking the Kauto Star Novice Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day 2024 the Harry Redknapp owned and Ben Pauling trained gelding made all, jumped well and was never really threatened. A good performance I thought beating Iroko over two lengths.
The Betfair Chase a Grade 1 over 3 miles registered as the Lancashire Chase is always a good marker for the season and we saw a very impressive winner after Grey Dawning won without coming out of first gear. Last year he was runner up to Royale Pagaille but this year the first two places were reversed. Dan Skelton his trainer said all roads lead to the Gold Cup next March for which he is general 16/1 chance.
Over at Ascot, the Grade 2 1965 Chase was won impressively by Jango Baie for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville beating Gidleigh Park by nine lengths. All being well the King George next I would imagine. The other Grade 2 on the card was the Ascot Hurdle and produced another good winner in Irish raider Wodhooh. The Gordon Elliot trained and Danny Gilligan ridden mare was too classy for today’s opposition and found things easier than chasing home Lossiemouth at Aintree last Spring.
Over the water at Punchestown the above mentioned Lossiemouth beat a depleted field at prohibitive odds of 1/5 by 19 lengths in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle. The other feature saw Oscars Brother trained and ridden by brothers Conor and Daniel King respectively take the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase.
On to Sunday, over in Ireland the big race action did not disappoint!
The Listed Grabel Mares Hurdle saw the Paul Nolan trained Feet Of A Dancer take the honours comfortably by nine lengths under Sean O’Keeffe from Mozzies Sister. 5/6 favourite Fun Fun Fun disappointed for the Mullins team. The Craddockstown Novice Chase, a Grade 2 event over the minimum trip saw Mullins and Townend back on the scoresheet after Westport Cove snatched victory from Fleur In the Park by a neck in a tremendous finish.
Half an hour later the Feature of the two-day meeting was upon us. The John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase delivered again in spades as Gaelic Warrior set a proper gallop and looked to have most of his opponents under pressure. However, Fact To File took up the running narrowly just before the last and looked the winner to many. Gaelic Warrior lived up to his name and somehow fought back to snatch a victory that will be talked about for years to come by a neck with twenty-nine lengths back to third horse Fast Or Slow who was making his comeback after a lengthy layoff.
Some race and some brave talented horses to appreciate here.