Sunday 1 February 2015 17:12, UK
A round-up of the rest of the action from Punchestown where Ballyboker Bridge clinched victory in the cross country chase.
Quantitativeeasing proved a bitter disappointment as 20-1 shot Ballyboker Bridge clinched victory in the P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase at Punchestown.
Despite not having won a race since 2011, Quantitativeeasing was the 8-11 favourite having filled the runner-up spot over the banks at Cheltenham in December, bidding to give trainer Enda Bolger a seventh win in the last nine runnings of this event.
However, he was in trouble a long way out in the hands of Mark Walsh and trailed home well-beaten.
For a while it looked as though a major upset could be on the cards when 66-1 chance Owens Pride went clear in the straight, but he was eventually mowed down by Peter Maher's point-to-pointer Ballyboker Bridge, ridden by Garrett Murphy.
Maher said: "He wants a bit better ground. I don't have a runner now for the Ladies Cup so I'm disgusted.
"All the work is down to Gary and Michael Bates who I bought him off. They told me he was a good one and they were right.
"The rest is history and here he is now at 20-1. There is plenty of room in the pond for the little fish."
November Handicap hero Open Eagle could finish only third on his jumping debut in the Michael Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden Hurdle as the Sandra Hughes-trained Total Recall claimed victory under Bryan Cooper.
Open Eagle was unsurprisingly all the rage as the 8-13 favourite for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, making his first appearance since sauntering clear in the Doncaster mud on the final day of the last year's British Flat season.
The six-year-old travelled well for most of the two-and-a-half-mile journey, but did not jump with great fluency and although he closed on the leaders in the straight, his effort eventually petered out.
Point-to-point winner Total Recall was an 11-2 chance having finished third on his first start over hurdles before finishing fourth in a Thurles bumper and he found plenty for pressure to get the better of Oscar Knight by two and a half lengths.
"He's very tough. He needs a good gallop so Bryan went on - he stays forever," said Hughes.
"We bought him after he won his point-to-point. That was a good performance as they went a hell of a gallop and he quickened up after the last.
"He doesn't mind that ground and will have no problem stepping up in trip. We'll see how he is after that and then make a plan."
The Shay Barry-trained Bentelimar claimed Listed honours in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners European Breeders Fund Novice Hurdle.
A winner at Killarney, Wexford and Leopardstown in 2014, Bentelimar was 4-1 shot stepped up in class in the hands of Brian O'Connell.
After tracking the pacesetting O Ceallaigh for most of the way, Barry's charge found top gear and swept to the lead rounding the turn for home.
He was a little slow at the final flight, but quickly picked up again and was well on top at the end.
All Hell Let Loose was best of the rest in second, with the Mullins pair of Aminabad and Avant Tout both failing to get competitive.
"He was getting under them a bit today. I think he's a fairly nice horse," said Barry.
"He came on a good bit from Leopardstown. He was dropping back to two miles and Brian said he's not slow.
"He's got a few entries at Cheltenham in the novices and we'll see. I think the handicaps close next week and we might put him in a couple of them.
"He's a lad to look forward to. He wouldn't want it too deep and likes a bit of nice ground. Fair play to Philip (Fenton) for sending him my way."
Lean Araig (11-1) edged out hot favourite Mydor in a pulsating climax to the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle.
Mydor was the 7-4 market leader for the formidable combination of Tony Martin and Ruby Walsh and loomed ominously alongside Lean Araig in the straight.
Mydor held a narrow advantage on touching down after the final flight, but Oliver McKiernan's Lean Araig battled back bravely under Robbie Colgan and won the argument by a head.
Lite Duties was back in third.
McKiernan admitted to being slightly confused afterwards after the course commentator appeared to mistake the winner for his 13-year-old stable companion Whatuthink.
"I'm delighted with that and delighted with the way he battled," said the trainer.
"The commentator wasn't sure which of them it was and I wasn't sure myself but I thought the other horse could hardly be going that well at his age.
"He had it all to do there and dug deep. It looked a goodish race and you'd have to think he has improved. Three miles definitely doesn't bother him but he could drop back in trip."
Embracing Change (7-2 favourite) was a comfortable winner of the Claim Your Free Trial At racinguk.com Grand National Trial for trainer Robert Tyner and jockey Phillip Enright.
The trainer's wife, Mary Tyner, said: "If we can find another long-distance race, something similar, he'll go for it.
"He enjoyed it today on the ground. The bit of extra distance makes it easier for him - it's the trip he needs."
