JP McManus's Carlingford Lough (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}) was able to fly under the radar and into the Punchestown winner's enclosure when causing an upset at 12-1 to win the featured race on the second day of the Punchestown Festival, the G1 Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup, by 4 1/2 lengths. Djakadam (Fr) (Saint Des Saints {Fr}) checked in second, while Cue Card (GB) (King's Theatre {Ire}), the 4-6 favourite, could manage no better than fourth.
The win was a career-best for longtime trainer John Kiely, who said, “I've been coming to Punchestown since 1948, when I was here as a child, and this is a never-again experience in my life. But once is lovely. I ride the horse out practically every day and I was very happy with him. He felt very good. He's the best I've trained and the best I will train.”
Carlingford Lough, who won the G1 Irish Gold Cup Feb. 6, was coming off a fourth in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase Mar. 18.
“He travels well when he's happy and relaxed and he stays really well,” Kiely added. “He's an easy horse to train, you just have to keep him fresh. He came a bit late at Cheltenham and he didn't seem to handle the ups and downs there. I think he prefers a level track and he's probably better in Ireland.”
Trainer Willie Mullins notched his first Grade 1 of the meeting when 2-1 favourite Bellshill (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}) got up late to take the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle under Ruby Walsh, and the trainer followed up later on the card with Blow By Blow (Ire) (Robin des Champs {Fr}) in the Attheraces.com Champion INH Flat Race. That gelding was ridden by Ruby Walsh's sister, Katie Walsh.
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