Punchestown review: Monbeg Notorious one to watch

More news from Punchestown, where Monbeg Notorious marked himself down as a staying chaser to keep an eye out for.

Monbeg Notorious made it third time lucky over fences with a comprehensive victory in the Buy Your 2018 Annual Membership Beginners Chase at Punchestown.

With Some Neck a significant non-runner, the Gordon Elliott-trained Monbeg Notorious was the 8-11 favourite to get off the mark after runner-up finishes at Gowran Park and Fairyhouse.

Davy Russell kept things simple aboard the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding, sending him straight to the front from the off and while he gave his supporters a scare at the very first obstacle, in the main he fenced fluently.

In Some Neck's absence, Willie Mullins relied on Augustin and he emerged as the main threat from the home turn.

However, Monbeg Notorious was not for catching and passed the post seven and a half lengths to the good.

Elliott said: "He's a big long-distance chaser. I doubt if he'll run in graded company and we'll look at some of the long-distance handicap chases on soft ground and give him a rattle at one of those.

"Hopefully he'll make into a nice handicapper."

Elliott and Russell were soon on the mark again as Robin Des Mana scooted clear of his rivals in the Goffs Punchestown Invitational Sale Handicap Chase.

The 7-1 shot took over the running rounding the home turn and was left clear after his nearest pursuer Surrogate Lad knuckled on landing at the final fence.

Surrogate Lad's fall hampered eventual runner-up Thirsty Work and Robin Des Mana scored by 19 lengths.

"He's got his act together and he's running well," said Elliott.

"We might have been a bit of a fortunate winner, as the horse was going well behind us, but jumping is the name of the game.

"It's great for Brendan Scully (owner) who has been with us a long time. It's nice to get another winner for him.

"We'll just keep him to those two-mile handicap chases."

Veneer Of Charm (100-30) gave Elliott and Russell a 59-1 treble when making a winning debut in the Festival Hospitality On Sale 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.

Russell crept up the inside on the Fast Company gelding to challenge Les Arceaux at the final flight and score by three-quarters of a length.

Azua Emery, the 3-1 favourite, was 11 lengths away in third.

"He's a grand honest horse and he'll win plenty of races," said Elliott.

"He's a horse that will mix and match it between the Flat and jumps. He'll definitely win plenty with a bit of luck."

Returntovendor rallied in game fashion to spring a 25/1 surprise in the Buy Your Tickets Online At www.punchestown.com Handicap.

Jarlath Fahey's gelding had been well beaten at Leopardstown three days earlier but was a different proposition on this occasion.

Despite being headed a couple of times as the business end, he found extra from the last for Ian McCarthy to beat Brave Out by a length and three-quarters.

"Ronan (Short) did nothing wrong on the horse the other day in Leopardstown. We didn't have cheekpieces on him then and he didn't start racing until he turned for home," said Fahey.

"We put the cheekpieces back on him today and that really galvanised him again."

He added: "I don't know where we'll go next. We might go back to Leopardstown for that three-mile hurdle on the festival weekend. Whether he'll run again between now and then I don't know, we'll see how he is."

The Shane Nolan-trained Urbanist (3-1 co-favourite) proved best in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

Nolan said: "He ran well on Tuesday (Down Royal) and we said we'd take a chance when there wasn't many declared.

"He was running with a hood because he was a little bit lit up, but he seems to be a lot more relaxed now so we swapped them for the cheekpieces."

Moyhenna was a well-backed 13-2 winner of the bumper for trainer Denis Hogan, who said: "She's run well in all her races and she's a chaser in the making. Whatever she does over hurdles will be an added bonus."