JESSICA Harrington recorded her third success of the week as Rapid Response and Sean O’Keeffe edged a tight conclusion to the Grade B Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarrig Lady Francis Flood Mares Handicap Chase.

This useful mare had shown a liking for decent ground over the course of last summer and was building on an encouraging third to Uisce Beatha at Fairyhouse over Easter to give the trainer her third win in the last seven editions of this race.

The favourite Scarlet And Dove looked as though she might be taking control of the race as the last two fences loomed but she clouted the second last and, while she hung on grimly, Rapid Response (9/1) closed in with a quick jump at the last. The winner, who carries the colours of Alan and Ann Potts Limited, was bearing down as the line loomed and forced her way past in the final stride to score by a neck.

“She winged the first few fences and got into a lovely rhythm and I was very happy everywhere through the race. She was a great spin and jumped great which really helped her and she was very brave at the last when I needed her,” declared the rider.

Shark rules

Rewritetherules, who brought a higher standard of form into this race than is often the case, justified evens favouritism in the Paddy Power Hunters Chase for the Bishopscourt Cup.

A winner of two hunter chases and two point-to-points, the Dermot O’Rourke-owned seven-year-old found this a good deal easier than the Foxhunters at Aintree in which he was pulled up last month. The evens favourite cruised through the race for Tom Hamilton and it was all looking ominous for his rivals when he cruised to the front well before the straight.

Shark Hanlon’s charge retained control of this race over the last two fences for an assured eight-length triumph over Alpha Male who won this race back in 2018. Hanlon was making it 23 winners for the season here which leaves him just one short of his best tally which he set nine years ago.

“The plan was to win this race when he was bought and we’ll try him in a better type of race but if he’s not good enough for those races he will be back here again next year. I was a bit worried about the ground easing as he wants good ground,” declared Hanlon.

A DISPLAY that was emblematic of what has transpired at Punchestown throughout the week saw the Willie Mullins-trained Asterion Forlonge totally outclass his rivals in the EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase.

The Marie Donnelly-owned grey, who was a Grade 1-winning novice hurdler, has endured his share of jumping tribulations since going chasing. However, he was produced in peak form for this €80,000 Grade A assignment as he continued what has been a fine season for Bryan Cooper who has provided a timely reminder of his talents with a series of notable wins on the big stage.

Asterion Forlonge did have to contend with top weight but supporters of the 11/4 favourite need not have worried as the two previous renewals of this race were won by Mullins-trained top weights. After a largely polished round of jumping Asterion Forlonge had tanked his way to the front before the end of the back straight and from the turn in he eased clear of his overmatched opponents to dish out a 14-length beating to Walk Away.

“The drop in class made a big difference as the pace of the race is quite different to what you get in graded races and the little bit of nicer ground helped,” reflected Mullins who has now won five of the last six editions of this race. I think he could improve a lot next season and he could be able to tackle top graded races. Any of our top weights who have won this race have turned out to be really good horses and I think he has that sort of potential.”

Meanwhile, Cooper added: “Willie has a fantastic record in this with top weights and I knew I was riding a horse with a great chance and everything went to plan. He jumped very well and I felt was in a different league at every stage”.

Paul Nicholls notched up his second winner of the meeting as Bob And Co (3/1) claimed the Irish Daily Star Champion Hunters Chase. This race served up a titanic duel between the Patrick Mullins-ridden Billaway and Bob And Co who was ridden by his owner David Maxwell.

The pair went toe to toe from the second last and served up an enthralling bobbing finish and at the line Bob And Co had a nose to spare to give his 43-year-old jockey a victory to savour.

“I’ve never won any sort of Foxhunters and I thought coming to the last if there’s one man I don’t want to be upsides it’s Patrick Mullins, but this horse dug in and he just wouldn’t lie down. He tried all the way to the line and was magnificent,” commented Maxwell.