Gamble landed: Full Noise backed from double-figure prices before 8-11 success

Full Noise landed a significant gamble at Punchestown on Sunday, returning the 8-11 favourite having opened as a general 12-1 chance the previous evening for division one of the 2m5f handicap hurdle.

The David Dunne-trained five-year-old had been winless from eight starts and never sent off at odds shorter than 33-1 before Sunday, but he was supported into 6-4 earlier in the day before opening at 5-6 and going off the 8-11 market leader.

3.50 Punchestown: full result and race replay

After watching Full Noise win by three-quarters of a length, Dunne said: "He's still a big baby. He ran very well at Wexford and I thought he would nearly have won had he jumped better. He made a lot of mistakes that day and that's why we put him back over hurdles today."

When asked about the money for the horse on this occasion, he replied: "He was tipped up in the Racing Post the last day and in a few other places. When the money starts to come, the public latch on."

Always placed within striking distance on this occasion, Full Noise still had three lengths to find on leader Esthers Marvel approaching the last but kept on strongly under Sean Flanagan to lead in the final furlong.

Owned by the trainer, Full Noise had put up a career-best on his previous run but was still eighth of ten finishers beaten 17½ lengths over fences at Wexford in October.

Previously, he had never finished closer than 55 lengths behind the winner in seven starts at odds ranging between 50-1 and 300-1.

The stewards inquired into the improvement in form, but were unable to come to a definite conclusion. The matter was referred on to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board referrals committee.

The victory comes after the Dunne-trained All Class landed a gamble in a Flat handicap at Navan in March that is currently being investigated by the IHRB.

Harty in flying form

Having created history in becoming Ireland's first joint-trainers earlier this month, the father-son combination of Eddie and Patrick Harty got off to a flyer with just their second runner as Whatucallher was promoted to first place in the 3m2f handicap hurdle.

The daughter of Robin Des Champs had been touched off a short-head by Walking On Glass, but the latter was deemed by the stewards to have improved his placing by bringing Whatucallher across the track in the last 50 yards and the race was awarded to the latter.

"It's obviously not an ideal way to get our first winner, but it is a dream start. It's onwards and upwards from here and hopefully there will be plenty more," said Eddie Harty.

The mare was a first winning ride in Ireland for French amateur Nicolas Terrassin, who had been second on her at Wexford two weeks previously.

Read more:

Next stop Coolmore as dual-purpose star Verdana Blue is retired

Eddie and Patrick Harty to create history as Ireland's first joint-trainers

'George thinks she'll run a big race' – Mystery Angel added to Oaks field

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