Consistent Rachael Blackmore shines on an unpredictable day

There was no predicting what way the ball would bounce on the opening day of the Punchestown festival but Rachael Blackmore, who has been deadly all season, rattled the back of the net on the big stage yet again when guiding the Willie Mullins-trained True Self to victory in the €60,000 2m½f handicap hurdle.

True Self, whom Blackmore took a tumble from in a similarly valuable contest at Fairyhouse a week ago, made amends by coming clear to win by two and a half lengths.

“She was well bought and she's a good mare," said Mullins. "Rachael was saying the ground made a big difference.

“I thought she'd win at Fairyhouse but obviously she got bogged down in the ground and was unlucky to fall.”

Great day for the Gleesons

There was a superb opening to the festival when Billy Gleeson guided his father John’s Just Wait And See to a hard-fought success in the 3m cross-country race.

Just Wait And See was given a prominent ride by Gleeson, who saved just enough in the tank to hold off the challenge of Blue Templar, representing Enda Bolger and Derek O’Connor, by a head at the line.

The winning trainer said: “I only have a handful of horses to keep an interest in the game. This has given me the biggest buzz I've ever had in my life.”

His son spoke admirably of how he doubted a victory of this magnitude would ever come his way, saying: “I never thought I had any sort of chance even staying in this game but the last few weeks have been amazing.

“The way things are in racing, it’s just tough, and my father was always telling me to go back to college and work hard but I said I’d stay at this and give it some time. If things keep picking up it makes it all worthwhile.”

He added: “We’ve had the horse since he was four. He’s been pulled up more times than he’s ever been placed but he’s a great, fun horse. He’s a clever horse and never really makes a mistake. It was him who got me there in the end.”

Elliott back in Command

Much of the build-up to the Goffs Land Rover Bumper revolved around Robert Tyner’s Design Matters, who had been well-backed at odds as big as 100-1, but there was only one horse on people’s lips afterwards, and that was impressive winner Commander Of Fleet.

Gordon Elliott’s runner won easily under Barry O’Neill, leading home a badly needed one-two-three for the trainer in the €100,000 contest.

Title-chasing Elliott said: “I only got him the week after he won his point-to-point for Pat Doyle.

"I haven’t galloped him, just cantered him away and Pat did all the hard work with him. I’d say the first three are all nice horses.”

Thought for the day
Attendances are hardly the barometer in which the success of a festival is measured anymore but Tuesday’s figure of 19,182 was respectable given the weather. There were 19,686 in attendance for the corresponding day last year.

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