Felix Desjy preserved his unbeaten record over fences on Saturday with his first Graded success over the larger obstacles in the Mongey Communications Novice Chase at Punchestown.
The Dromahane four-year-old maiden winner took up his now custom position at the head of affairs, and despite jumping out to his left on occasion, the seven-year-old was headed before the fifth last and has a notable deficit to bridge on Sizing Pottsie approaching the home bend.
Picking up strongly in the home straight, and burning off the challenge of the Champion Hurdle third Darver Star in the process, Jack Kennedy made notable headway approaching the final fence, with the pair overhauling Sizing Pottsie and Kennedy’s brother Paddy on the run-in, before pulling a length and three quarters clear at the line in the Grade 2 two mile contest.
Following the success, the winning rider expressed his delight for the round of jumping that Felix Desjy had produced.
Felix Desjy keeps his clean slate over fences with Grade 2 success in the @mongeycomms Novice Chase for Jack Kennedy and @gelliott_racing � pic.twitter.com/cjEDDWENeN
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) November 14, 2020
The victory completed a successful 30 minutes to the start of the Punchestown card, as it followed the winning chasing debut of Asterion Forlonge in the Roche Group at Vista Beginners Chase.
The Oldtown four-year-old maiden winner for Pat Doyle, was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles last season before finishing fourth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Having his first run since the Cheltenham Festival and what was also his first competitive outing over racecourse fences, the grey raced up with the pace throughout and overcame a mishap at the penultimate obstacle, where he pecked on landing under Paul Townend, to defeat fellow point-to-point graduate Conflated by six lengths.
Willie Mullins indicated that the six-year-old 4/11 favourite would now step up in trip to a minimum of 2m 4f for the remainder of the season with the possibility of one further run before Christmas.
Asterion Forlonge had a very good CV over hurdles and is now a scorer on his chasing debut, winning the Roche Group At Vista Beginners Chase for @PTownend and @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/SDSkUJpfDU
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) November 14, 2020
The most valuable race on the Punchestown card produced further success for ex-Irish Pointers, as Mick Goff’s former pointer, Daly Tiger, caused something of an upset on his seasonal re-appearance by landing the €75,000 Alanna Homes Handicap Chase.
Noel Meade’s charge, who was sent off as a 22/1 shot, comfortably overcame of the challenge of the former Grade 1 winner Tornado Flyer in the Grade B contest.
Daly Tiger is a convincing winner of the @Alanna_Homes Handicap Chase despite his odds of 22-1 for Sean Flanagan and @tuvastables � pic.twitter.com/w4lqpObFdl
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) November 14, 2020
