A winner at Wexford a week ago, Cloudy Morning put in a spectacular round of galloping and jumping to win the marathon (3 miles 7 furlongs) Boylesports Handicap Chase under young Taghmon claiming jockey Sean O’Keeffe at Punchestown on the final day (Saturday).
Trained in Waterford by Declan Queally, the trainer said afterwards: “I’m in shock to be honest. For an 11-year-old to climb the handicap so much but he’s done it.
“With Sean’s (O’Keeffe) 7lb it was such a light weight and obviously helped so much over three-miles-seven.
O’Keeffe added; “I had a good winner at Leopardstown last Christmas but this would be my biggest winner. I’m riding out with Jessica Harrington, Liz Doyle and Paul Nolan.
“That’s my first ride for Declan. He was savage and travelled everywhere. He jumped great and was better the further he went. Declan said he would stay every yard of the trip and he was dead right.”
Ard Abhainn won the bumper for Gordon Elliott, but there was a strong Wexford connection here. Bred by Jim Mernagh, Coolamurray Stud, Enniscorthy, the five year old filly won her point-to-point at Lingstown with Kevin Corrigan up in March when trained by Denis Murphy, Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh.
There was a new record attendance of 37,206 for Family Day at Punchestown on Saturday to rounded off a highly successful Festival meeting at the Co. Kildare venue.
The total attendance over the five days of 126,880 was just marginally down on last year’s figure of 127,489.