Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

IT was a case of copy and paste for Joseph O’Brien in the Fred Winter, as Puturhandstogether (17/2) followed in the footsteps of Band Of Outlaws (2019) and Lark In The Mornin (2024) as well-placed winners of the ultra-competitive handicap.

One of the easiest handicap winners of the week under Mark Walsh, J.P. McManus’ useful flat performer showed plenty of gears to score by six lengths from Gavin Cromwell-trained 50/1 shot Robbies Rock.

“This race is always won by ex-Flat horses, but I suppose that is where the improvement has come from, having run on winter ground then getting a bit of spring ground today as he seemed to really thrive on it,” said O’Brien.

“He did surprise me as to how easy he got there, as coming here I thought he was in with a chance, but we didn’t think he was that well handicapped. Mark gave him a great ride as the pace was on, but he took a sit and let them all at it. I would say that was probably the difference today.

“I suppose we will see what the handicapper does next. We have gone onto the Galway Hurdle with some of the horses in the past so that might be a logical step.”

Ultima Handicap Chase

QUITE the touch was landed in the Ultima as Myretown, available at 20/1 in the morning, made all on his way to an 11-length trouncing of his rivals under Patrick Wadge – returning as a very popular 13/2 favourite.

Ireland’s drought in the three-mile event goes on (Dun Doire the last in 2006) but Lucinda Russell has become prolific at landing the prize, this her third success in the last four runnings.

“We knew that if he jumped round, he was phenomenally well-handicapped; I just didn’t know if he was going to be man enough, and it’s very exciting that he is,” said Russell.

“He’s a bit different to [our other winner of this race] Corach Rambler – he jumps so exuberantly. Corach is just a different sort of horse, but this is a phenomenal horse. And I’m so pleased for Patrick. He’s a young boy, he’s had ups and downs – that’s his first Festival winner.”

Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’

Handicap Chase

BRITISH trainers very much had the upper hand over the visitors on day one, and 7/2 joint-favourite Haiti Couleurs made it 4-3 in the Prestbury Cup to the home squad by landing the revamped National Hunt Chase.

Ridden by the red-hot Ben Jones and trained by Rebecca Curtis, the strong stayer took advantage of an attractive mark in scoring by four and a half lengths, though it would have been fascinating to see how Now Is The Hour would have fared but for coming down at the second last when about to throw down his challenge.

Curtis said: “I felt so nervous before this horse ran today, but watching him was almost like watching it all in slow motion. He’s done that well, he deserved that. He’s such a tough horse. He wouldn’t be overly speedy, he’ll just gallop all day long.

“We’ve only really got 20-odd horses in, we just need more horses now. I know I can do the job, it would just be nice to get a few more.”