Guinness Kerry National Handicap Chase

SOME 23 years after his father, Harry, won the race with Bishops Hall, Henry de Bromhead struck gold in the Guinness Kerry National as Poker Party showed himself to be quite at home in the white-hot surrounds of top-class handicap company.

Incredibly, last season’s jockeys’ championship runner-up Rachael Blackmore had never ridden a winner at Listowel but she put that to rights on a day to savour for owner Brian Acheson.

The latter had only had one runner at this meeting in the past and he almost enjoyed the perfect result here with Poker Party securing victory and the other Robcour representative, Na Tractalai Abu, running a tremendous race for third.

Partnership

Over the course of last season, de Bromhead and Blackmore formed a dynamic and prolific partnership and, as the National Hunt seasons starts to warm up appreciably, it was entirely fitting that they should win the most valuable prize on offer this side of Christmas.

Six weeks previously at Galway, Poker Park got no further than the second fence when a leading fancy for the Plate and he was something of a forgotten horse for this prize having been allowed to go off at 14/1.

In the race itself Poker Party bided his time off quite a decent early pace that saw the field well strung out after an early stage. The winner gradually picked his way through the pack and for much of the second circuit he and the eventual runner-up, Ravenill, were a menacing presence in behind the leaders.

Poker Party eventually moved to the head of the field with two to jump and he deftly cleared the last as he looked to hold off the English raider Shantou Village and the oncoming Ravenhill.

After clouting the last, Shantou Village parted company with Robbie Power after the rider’s reins broke, but, in any case, Ravenhill was the bigger danger. That rival finished strongly but Poker Party was just as purposeful and he held on by a head.

Na Trachtalai Abu was third with Internal Transfer running a brave fourth. The 5/2 favourite Movewiththetimes was reported to be blowing hard after finishing ninth.

“After he ran in the Plate we decided we would aim for this race. He takes a little time to warm up in his races so Rachael let him find his feet and I thought that she was brilliant on him and just crept into the race,” said the trainer.

“He’s only just out of novice company and after Galway we came here looking to get some confidence back into him and run a nice race and it’s all worked out brilliantly.

“I’m not sure where he will go now but we’ll just enjoy today. It’s brilliant for Rachael and the Achesons, who are great supporter of ours, and it’s great that we’ve been able to win this race after my father won it back in 1996.”