Punchestown report: Galvin cruises to emphatic win on return

Galvin repeated last season’s success in the Irish Daily Star – Best For Racing Coverage Chase with ease at Punchestown.

Having conceded 8lb to take the Grade Three prize last season, Gordon Elliott’s crack staying chaser made light work of his four rivals under a 12lb and more disadvantage this time.

Having stalked the decent pace set by Politesse, he jumped between the mare and stablemate Run Wild Fred at the third-last, before Davy Russell’s mount drew clear between the last two fences, cruising to a five-and-a-half-length success.

Top-class performers such as Kicking King, War Of Attrition and Don Cossack have won this three-mile event in recent times and having justified odds of 11-10 at the head of the market, Paddy Power clipped the eight-year-old to 16-1 (from 20s) for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in which he finished fourth to A Plus Tard in March.

Elliott said: “Davy said he jumped like a buck from fence to fence. Fitness-wise, he is probably a little bit behind where he was last year and he’ll come on for it, but it’s a nice start. He’ll head now to Down Royal probably along with Conflated.

“He doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He keeps pulling it out every year and we are lucky to have him.

“Jack (Kennedy) said Run Wild Fred would be better off in a big handicap, but that will leave him spot on.

“He fell last time in the National and was a bit careful over the first four or five. He’ll go for a good handicap chase.”

Willie Mullins has his string in fine early-season form, as witnessed by Adamantly Chosen who ran out a ready winner of the Grade Three Buck House Novice Chase at Punchestown to book a likely Grade One assignment.

The five-year-old had managed to win just one of his six starts over hurdles, yet began his chasing career with an easy win at Listowel last month.

Upped in class, the 6-5 favourite made a hash of the first fence, but soon warmed to the task and in the end proved far too good for his five rivals in the extended two-and-a-quarter-mile event.

He thereafter jumped with plenty of fluency under Danny Mullins, going on to score readily by three and three-quarter lengths.

Adamantly Chosen could now head straight to the Drinmore Novices’ Chase at Fairyhouse.

The winning trainer said: “I was very impressed with his jumping, albeit that he made that bad mistake early on. He jumped from fence to fence, likes that ground and going right-handed seems to suit him.

“Danny thought he wouldn’t have any problem going out in trip either. We’ll have to take a look at the Drinmore and I don’t think he’d want a run in between.”

Marine Nationale took his unbeaten run to three when scoring impressively on his hurdling debut under Michael O’Sullivan.

The dual bumper winner, trained by Barry Connell, was four lengths too good for Viceregent in the two-mile maiden hurdle and won with plenty in hand.

Connell is looking to step Marine Nationale up in class after giving him a little more experience.

After welcoming the 4-9 favourite into the winner’s enclosure, he said: “He jumped well and has schooled well at home. Sam Curling had him as a four-year-old and he was ready to run in point-to-points so he had loads of that done.

“He could probably do with another run and may go for a Grade Three in Navan (For Auction Novice Hurdle, on November 13) with a view, if he’s still on track, to going for the Royal Bond after that.

“He’s having a good blow after that. He wasn’t as impressive as he was in his bumpers, but did what he had to do today. It’s a good start.

“He was in his hands a bit early on. He’s a horse that would not want soft ground and usually Fairyhouse before Christmas and Leopardstown should be ideal.

“He’s a great horse to have and it’s early days. Who knows what is going to come out, but we are happy to have that out of the way.”

Paddy Power kept the five-year-old’s odds at 25-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The Eoin McCarthy-trained Well Funded earned the fifth win of her career with a gutsy effort under Richie Deegan to fend off the persistent challenge of Dollys Destination, scoring by a length and a quarter in the two-mile mares’ handicap hurdle.

The winning rider said: “We got away smart, but I think she likes being ridden a bit colder and I was happy enough to take my time on her.

“We fancied her ,but it was in the back of our mind that she had been busy. It’s all worked out well.”

King Kal maintained the good run of Colm Murphy’s stable when justifying 7-2 favouritism under Brian Hayes in the extended two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.

The six-year-old had opened his account at Downpatrick in August and showed improvement to follow up on his handicap debut by four and a half lengths, having jumped with plenty of fluency.

Hayes said: “Colm thought he had a good chance. He’s not running a lot of horses, but whatever is running seems to be placed or winning. Whenever you get the leg up from him you fancy your chances.

“He’d a nice low weight. There was a bit of hustle and bustle turning in and he got a clearer run than most. He was good and for a first run in a handicap we were delighted with him.”