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Reports12 January 2025

'The engine is there' - Lecky Watson cut to 10-1 for Cheltenham Festival after making it two out of two over fences

Lecky Watson and Paul Townend survive a bunny hop at the final fence
Lecky Watson and Paul Townend survive a bunny hop at the final fenceCredit: Patrick McCann

Chasing seems to be bringing the best out of Lecky Watson, who was cut to 10-1 (from 16) by Paddy Power for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham after making it two out of two over fences in the Grade 3 novice chase sponsored by Sky Bet.

None of the four runners jumped fluently in the tacky ground and it was ironic that the most fluent of the four, Ifiwerearichman, came down at the last when still in contention. 

Despite bunny-hopping the last, Lecky Watson picked up decisively under Paul Townend to beat main market rival Down Memory Lane by eight lengths.

"He enjoyed the scenery anyway, it was a job getting him to concentrate properly," said the jockey. "The fourth-last and third-last were the best jumps that he threw in and he has the engine. He settled it very quickly I thought.

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Lecky Watson: winner at Punchestown under Paul TownendCredit: Patrick McCann

"He's probably more mature this year. We can work on his jumping. The ground wasn't a help and it has been frozen all week so we couldn't give him a refresher either, which probably didn't help.

"Chasing is his job though. I always thought he was a stayer, it was just that he was so hard on himself. Once he settled better, we were always more likely to go up in trip than come back."

Kappa completes champion treble
After the victory of Salvator Mundi in the feature, Mullins and Townend completed a treble when the promising Kappa Jy Pyke landed the 2m1f maiden hurdle by 17 lengths, although victory was bittersweet as his chief market rival Don'tstopthemusic suffered a fatal fall when coming to challenge at the final flight.

Townend is keen on the winner, who was runner-up to Moscow Flyer fourth Sky Lord at Cork last month. 

Kappa Jy Pyke:
Kappa Jy Pyke: winner at Punchestown on SundayCredit: Patrick McCann

He said: "It was a nice performance. He built on his Cork run well in every sense jumping-wise and the freshness was gone out of him with the benefit of the run. I thought he quickened up smartly down the straight. I was actually quite taken with him."

Ney keeps Buckley run going
Trainer Ned Buckley saddled his second winner in Ireland, both at Punchestown, when his son Kieren partnered 33-1 shot Ney to victory in the opening beginners' chase. 

An imposing gelding by Free Eagle, he was having his first run for the Buckleys having had a successful stint in low-grade Flat handicaps in Britain, although the rider's association with the horse went back to them combining to win a Cork handicap hurdle in 2022 when he was trained by Prunella Dobbs.

Ney and Kieran Buckley en route to winning the beginners' chase at Punchestown
Ney and Kieren Buckley en route to winning the beginners' chase at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann

The trainer said: "It's all down to Kieren. He told me the horse was going to the sales at Doncaster and I knew nothing about him, but he did. So we had a look at him, made a few phone calls and I paid £5,000 for him.

"When we got him home I thought he was a right horse, and the only concern I had was why he had not run over fences before. But he can't half jump and is as brave as a lion. He won like he'll win again."


Read this next:

'He didn’t jump well because I couldn’t let him' - Paul Townend on Supreme favourite Salvator Mundi's winning return 


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