Report | Punchestown 16th February 2020

It was a red-letter day for Sorcha Woods, who had her first winner aboard the David Christie-owned and trained Horendus Hulabaloo in the Mongey Communications open for novice riders.

The 11-year-old son of Beneficial went on to secure a five-length victory over Call It Magic, who was bidding to provide Tom Harney with his first winner.It is likely that the veteran will now remain in the open division.

"He deserved that because he had a great run at Borris. Sorcha (Woods) gets on very well with him and he is a better horse this year. She rides very well. It was her third ride for me, but she never puts a foot wrong, she is always in the right place," said Christie

Twenty-year-old Dublin native Lee Byrne also secured his first career win in the Dublin Products Ltd six-year-old and upwards geldings' maiden aboard the Gordon Elliott-owned and trained Evalabrune D'or, securing a length and a half victory over the Denis Murphy-trained Crio Cuervos.

“He did it grand there. He jumped great and travelled away great. We will probably look at something in a couple of weeks for him. The young lad [Lee Byrne] gave him a grand ride. He works in the yard for Gordon, so it is a grand way for him to start off,” said Simon McGonagle, who was representing the absent winning handler.

Originally from Co. Kerry, Cian Collins is only in his first season of training, but he wasted no time in sending out his first winner when he took the Cavan Developments five-year-old geldings’ maiden with his son of Flemensfirth, We Will Sort It.

Ridden by Jamie Codd, the DAP Partnership-owned gelding won by a comfortable 15 lengths over the only other runner in the contest, Rarintogo.

“He is a very good horse and will probably go for a winners’ race and then be left off. He will go to Gordon Elliott’s after that,” said Collins.

Rewritetherules is now Cheltenham bound following his success in the Quinns of Baltinglass Farmers Hunt Race.

Ridden by Tom Hamilton, the Shark Hanlon-trained son of Jeremy held on by a half-length from Handy Headon in second.

"Tom said he got there too soon and he just idled in front. He got a bad stone bruise about ten days ago and we haven’t been able to do much with him this week. I chanced coming with him today, nine times out of ten I wouldn’t, but the owners are from Naas, and for them it means more to win here than it does at Cheltenham. But we are heading to Cheltenham now for the Foxhunters," said Hanlon.

Colin Bowe took the Goffs four-year-old maiden with his newcomer son of Getaway, Bareback Jack.

Owned by the Milestone Racing Partnership, Rob James steered the gelding to a 15 length success over Blumen Glory in second.

“He is a nice horse. He took a little bit of time, but he has been working well and seems to be nice. He did his job well there and will go straight to the sales,” said Craig Casey, representing Colin Bowe.

The father and son team of Sean and Noel McParlan took the Jacqueline McManus Solicitors five-year-old and upwards mares' maiden with their newcomer, Drumlee Getaway, who was eased down on the run in to secure a length and a half victory over the Colin Bowe-trained VIctorias Peak.

“When she came around the bend she had a good look at the last, but once I asked her to pick up, she really kicked on. When I stood up on her going to the line, her ears pricked up and she thought she was done there, but as Rob closed I gave her another squeeze and off she went again. I think she is a decent mare and she will go to Cheltenham now all being well," said the winning rider.