Puncher Clynch got the better of a bunch finish to the Group Three P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.
O'Brien duo denied in Leopardstown highlight
Puncher Clynch got the better of a bunch finish to the Group Three P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.
Winner of a handicap on his last outing, the 12/1 shot stepped up in game fashion to spring a surprise in the 10-furlong contest, seeing off the Aidan O'Brien duo of At First Sight and Mikhail Glinka.
"He's a very versatile type as he gets a mile and a half and he could be dropped back to nine furlongs," said winning trainer Jim Bolger.
"He probably wouldn't be able to cope with Group One company just yet, but he'd certainly be able to cope with a level below.
"He doesn't seem to mind the ground or surface. He will probably have an easy week or two of it after that."
Bolger was completing a 142-1 double along with jockey Kevin Manning after the pair had earlier teamed up with Book Of Numbers (10/1) in the Glenbeigh Group Handicap.
Dermot Weld also bagged a double when Famous Name romped home in the Heritage Stakes to follow up the victory of Brushed Aside in the Stepaside Handicap.
The former (11-10f) tracked his pace-setting stablemate Broad Meaning until striking the front early in the straight.
That gave Famous Name first run on his chief market rival Recharge and Pat Smullen's mount pulled two and a half lengths clear at the line.
"He's a very good horse and that was a very good performance," said trainer's son Kris. "He is in such good form, we were a little bit worried about the ground.
"The two possibilities for him are the Group Three Amethyst Stakes back here in May or the Prix de Muguet at Saint-Cloud the weekend before."
