GORDON Elliott was reportedly sourcing future talent last Tuesday but success continued to flow unabated on the racecourse as he sent out a treble on the card sponsored by Toals Bookmakers at Punchestown.

Jack Kennedy was in the plate for all three victories and the pair first teamed up with Goodthynemilan in the beginners chase on the card.

The 4/1 shot was handy throughout and kicked for home turning into the straight in the two-mile-six contest. Nicole’s Milan pressed hard on the run-in but couldn’t get to the winner, going down by a length-and-a-half. Assistant trainer Ian ‘Busty’ Amond said afterwards: ‘’It probably wasn’t a great race but Jack said she won it well. You’d imagine off her mark there would be a couple of hurdles in her. It was great because Gordon’s father is involved in the (Barstool Prophets) syndicate as well as some local lads from Summerhill.”

Kennedy felt he was getting the better of the argument when left clear at the last to win the novice handicap hurdle on Sir Carno. The Gigginstown gelding was sent off the well backed 11/4 favourite and was disputing at the final flight with Shar Whats Therush when that rival fell. He went on to record a two-and-a-half-length win.

“I felt like my lad was keeping going, the other horse came with one run and that was it. I felt I had the measure of him,” said Kennedy.

Poormans Hill completed the treble for Cullentra when justifying 4/5 favourtism in the concluding two-mile-six handicap hurdle. Kennedy went on after the third last on Vincent Caldwell’s gelding and he galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a seven-length success over Bronco Bill.

“He was a good buy and he’s won six for us now. He’s been a star so far and there might be one or two left in him,” said Amond.

“He can mix it between both. It’s great when they can back up like that and he’s done it twice now.”

The winner was winning quickly under a penalty and was the second horse on the card to achieve this following the earlier victory of Wings Like Arion.

Jessica Harrington’s charge was sent off 5/4 favourite for the two-mile handicap hurdle and battled on gamely, having hit the lead after two out, under Robbie Power to record a three-parts-of-a-length win.

“It was the right decision. I very rarely do that but I thought I had to,” said Harrington.

“Robbie said she was off the bridle all the way down the back, they went much quicker today. He gave him a squeeze going to the third last and she suddenly went on. He said she was actually idling up the run-in and as soon as they started she felt them coming to her. She had a bit in the locker.

“She’ll have a little bit of a break now and then we’ll find a similar contest for her. She’d need to go at least two-and-a-half on better ground because she’s not very quick. She jumps great which is the brilliant thing about her. It’s great for Geoffrey (Ruddock) who leases her off the breeder. It’s great to get him back in the winners’ enclosure because he has a nice young horse.”

Denis Hogan is hoping to hold on to Moyhenna after her victory in the mares maiden hurdle.

The 4/1 shot proved a game winner of the two-miler, overcoming a slight mistake at the last, to lead on the run-in and beat Moonlight Escape by a length.

“Over two miles that was always going to be hard going because two-and-half isn’t even her trip – she’s a three-mile mare and we’ll be looking at fences next year,” said Hogan.

“We might find a mares’ novice and give her one more run this season but she’s actually in the sales in two weeks time at Cheltenham. I’ll be gutted if she goes and we lose her. She mightn’t be quick but she’s a proper National Hunt mare and stays very well. Her sister by Flemensfirth, Moskovite, is very good at home and won a point-to-point two weeks ago. She’ll definitely goes to Cheltenham in two weeks and she could be very good, she could be as good as we have had.

“We have another sister by Flemensfirth who is showing good things so it’s a great family. It’s good for the lads, the Hennelleys, who have been good National Hunt supporters for a long time. When this one goes over fences she won’t give up anyway, that’s for sure. It worked out well.

“I was going to make it but Davy Russell was going to do the same so I had company the whole way around instead of being on my own. They went a good gallop on the ground and it turned into a proper test.”

Eagle Lion looks another with a bright future following his victory in the other maiden hurdle on the card, over two and a half miles. Davy Russell’s mount travelled well into contention in the straight and kicked on after the last for a comprehensive six-length success.

Trainer Pat Kelly revealed afterwards that he was hopeful of success with the 11/10 favourite: “We’ll see where we go now. I was hoping he would win today. We might bring him back here on the February 11th for a three-mile handicap hurdle. It depends on what way the handicapper rates him.”

Charles Byrnes is hoping Oscar Lantern has a couple more wins in him after he opened his account over fences in the opening handicap contest over two-mile-seven.

The Oscar gelding challenged from the second last, under Mark Enright, and proved three-parts of a length too strong for Routes Choice on the run-in.

“He was consistent enough. His last two runs were quite consistent and he was at the right end of the handicap today in that ground. It paid off,” said Byrnes.

“It’s great to get the win out of him. We thought he would get one and once he’s got one I suppose we’ll try and get another one. He’d be idle enough but would pull out a small bit, he only has the one pace.”

ACTING STEWARDS

P. Caffrey, S. Barry, J.O. Onions, J. Gaisford, S.T. Lawrence, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

MOONLIGHT ESCAPE (G.Elliott): She has run really well to finish runner-up on her last two outings.