Bob goes out at the top to give O’Keeffe title-boosting treble

Misty eyes abounded among the 19,548 people in attendance as the third day of the Punchestown Festival climaxed with Bob Olinger’s last stand on a racecourse proving a glorious one.

When the shooting stopped and the dust settled, there was just one steed standing.

The horse described by owner Brian Acheson as his third child was delivered in trademark smooth fashion by Darragh O’Keeffe to take it up from another Acheson favourite, Teahupoo, and then hold off Jimmy Du Seuil by three-quarters of a length to win the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle to a thunderous ovation.

In the process, O’Keeffe was completing a treble and bringing his tally for the season to 99 not out, but more to the point, just three off Jack Kennedy. The race to be champion jockey is really heating up.

This was all about Bob and his enduring brilliance, however, under the expert tutelage of trainer Henry de Bromhead and his team at the Co Waterford yard in Knockeen.

Acheson had announced beforehand that it would be the 11-year-old’s final race – and the same applied to the admirable Jessica Harrington-trained mare Jetara - but the 4/1 second favourite was delivered in peak condition to make it a day to remember.

“He’s got a gear and he’s just a class horse. Pure class and he always has been,” an admiring de Bromhead stated.

“Davy Roche, my assistant, said he’s the best horse that’s ever come through our place, and that’s a big statement. Now, he is probably a bit biased, because he adores him. He’s like his second child, but I’m just delighted for everyone at home, and obviously the Achesons and Darragh. He’s a class rider, and he gave him a brilliant ride.

“It’s really special for him to go out like that, it’s what he deserves. He read the script. He knows what’s going on.”.

“He’s a superstar of a horse,” O’Keeffe declared. “He does it all so easy and travels really well. It’s great to be riding a horse like him.

“He’s been staying really well this year, so I was kind of just delaying my challenge, but at the same time just stoking him away up, you know? But I could hear the commentator saying that Paul was kind of coming as well (on Jimmy Du Seuil). So I sort of had to let him go before the last but it’s absolutely brilliant.”

There was drama in the first Grade 1 of the day, the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase. Proceedings looked to be going according to expectation as the strong-travelling Kopek Des Bordes (4/11f) eased past frontrunner Irish Panther to go a length and a half clear approaching the penultimate obstacle.

While Bob Olinger’s faithfulness to the script, however, said script has been shredded a few times since the commencement of the Punchestown Festival on Tuesday, and despite having barely touched a twig throughout, an alarming jump left, coupled with a failure in the production of landing gear left Kopek crumpling and Paul Townend tumbling. Thankfully, both emerged unscathed.

Harry Cobden had been creeping closer all the time on Closutton stablemate Salvator Mundi, who has had high expectations dashed on a few occasions himself, although he did finish runner-up at Aintree last time out.

He was in the position to capitalise this time around and moved quickly past Irish Panther, scooting away to land the spoils by a dozen lengths at 13/2.

“It was lovely,” said Cobden. “They went a nice, even gallop and he jumped well the whole way around. I was obviously fortunate when Paul came down, I wasn’t sure I was going to get past him but it was lovely to win it.

“Those two horses in front, they were the two other high-class horses in the race but you couldn’t give them too much. Fair play to David Casey, they told me to ride him to come home well.

“He was very quick with his feet (to avoid being brought down). But it’s a lovely way to ride them. You put know pressure on the horse and he jumped well. Rhythm is everything isn’t it and he wasn’t wasting any time in the air.”.

Willie Mullins was pleased for winning owners, Marie and Joe Donnelly.

“He’s a good horse in his own right,” said the victorious trainer. “He was right on the premises; it wasn’t as if he was 20 lengths behind and picked up the pieces. He was going to be involved in the finish. If Kopek had made a mistake there and got away with it, your man was right on his tail.

“He’s always been a good horse, but things just haven’t gone right for him. It’s nice to get a big race like that with him. He won in Aintree last year and he’s no back number. He probably needs nice ground, and is probably more of a spring horse than a real winter horse.

“I’m delighted for Marie and Joe Donnelly. They’ve had a disappointing season but now they have Kitzbuhel and this fella winning.” The nightcap was a rip-roaring contest providing the Declan Queally operation with a festival winner to round off a memorably season, via Adaboy Mushy (9/1) and a brilliantly delivered late run by Barry Stone in the plate.

The Queallys bagged a first Grade 1 with I’ll Sort That at Naas in January and have saddled winners at most of the major meetings and Adaboy Mushy made it two from two in the JP & M Doyle INH Flat Race, wearing a first-time hood.

There were plenty still in with a shout up the straight as the complexion altered a few times, but just as it appeared that yesterday’s Grade 1 hero, Josh Halford had done enough on the Gordon Elliott-trained Bon Bon Fizz, Stone and his Blue Bresil four-year-old partner arrived with a wet sail to snatch the verdict.

“That’s mighty,” said Declan Queally Jnr. “When I looked at the weights in the race, I said I wouldn’t ride him myself. I had been watching Barry, and he rode for me in Bellewstown before. He’s a good lad.

“I thought it might be the difference and that’s why I said I’d sit it out. It paid dividends as there wasn’t much in it. He quickened well and I’m delighted.

“The owners are in the bar all day, so they are fairly buoyed! I’d say I’ll have to join them now. I said I was going home to ride out in the morning, but I don’t think I’m allowed now.”