Galvin stretches winning run to six on his return at Punchestown
Galvin took his winning run to six with a pleasing display on his seasonal debut in the Irish Daily Star – Best For Racing Coverage Chase at Punchestown yesterday.
Absent since winning the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival when in the temporary care of Ian Ferguson, while trainer Gordon Elliott served a six-month suspension, Galvin got the new campaign off to the ideal start in the Grade Three heat.
The Willie Mullins pair of Brahma Bull and Annamix ensured it was a proper test over three miles, with Davy Russell on Galvin happy to sit in third place in the five-runner field. Annamix tried to set sail for home after the third-last fence, but Galvin (evens favourite) was up to the challenge despite his sevenmonth absence.
The seven-year-old jumped the final obstacle with a narrow lead and kept on stoutly to hold the renewed bid of Annamix by half a length. Elliott said: “I thought it was a good performance with the weight he had, and we knew he was going to come on plenty from it. He was up against two race-fit horses.
“He’s entered in Down Royal and is a horse to look forward to for the season. It’s a race [Ladbrokes Champion Chase] that could cut up and he looks like he’s entitled to take his chance in a Grade One. We missed Listowel, as we thought it was coming a bit too soon, and he’s having a good blow after that race today. He only really does what he has to do, but he’s a grand, honest horse and this has been a lucky race for us.”
Owned by Ronnie Bartlett, Galvin was cut to 33-1 from 40-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Paddy Power. Elliott said: “He might be
more of a Grand National horse than a Gold Cup horse, but he knows how to win. He doesn’t want bottomless ground.”
Embittered landed a first graded success with a game performance in the Extra Places Everyday At Betvictor Novice Chase. Bryan Cooper sent the Joseph O’brien-trained seven-year-old into the lead two out as Exit Poll, who had beaten him at Roscommon, faded after setting the pace. Embittered held the challenge of Hurricane Georgie by 2¼ lengths to claim the Grade Three prize.
O’brien’s assistant Brendan Powell said: “It was probably a bit sharp for him the last day and they got him out of his comfort zone halfway around. The extra few furlongs today suited him.”
My Mate Mozzie was an impressive winner on his debut over the smaller obstacles in the Betvictor Proud To Support Irish Racing Maiden Hurdle.