O’Keeffe lands La Touche to keep on Kennedy’s coattails

The Mongey Communications La Touche Cup is always a spectacle and it provided thrills and spills go leoir once again as Busselton battled to a gutsy three-and-a-quarter-length victory from the staying-on Outside The Door, with The Goffer a half-length behind in third.

In winning at odds of 7/2, Busselton was posting a two-in-a-row in a race that showcases the uniqueness and traditions of the Punchestown Festival but this time, the nine-year-old was ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe, wearing the colours of the Friendship Syndicate, and trained by Banks King, Enda Bolger.

Bolger famously trained Risk Of Thunder, owned by legendary actor Sean Connery, to win the La Touche seven times between 1995 and 2002 but had not entered the winner’s enclosure since Auvergnat scored under Donie McInerney in 2018, the trainer’s 15th time winning the race in total.

It was fitting that O’Keeffe was in the plate as the Doneraile man began his career in Bolger’s famous premises. The former champion conditional had due cause to be delighted, as it was his second winner of the day, bringing his tally for a phenomenal campaign to 98 winners and closing the gap to Jack Kennedy to four in the race to be champion jockey.

But delivering for his ex-mentor gave him most joy.

“It’s my first winner over the banks,” said O’Keeffe afterwards. “This horse has plenty of experience from his time with Joseph O’Brien. I’m delighted to ride a winner for Enda Bolger. He was massive in my career. I started out for him and he hasn’t had a winner in this race since 20187, so I’m delighted to win it for him.

“He was dynamite. I winged the second-last and got the front too soon and he nearly parked at the last but when he heard the others he picked up again and battled well.

“I knew today was going to be strong. I’d want to get another couple but it’s been good so far.”.

O’Keeffe had gotten off the mark in the previous race, when stoking up Adrienne (15/2) to win the Close Brothers Mares’ Novice Hurdle for Ted and Helen Walsh, the husband-and-wife trainer/owner/breeder combination that relish success at the Punchestown Festival.

The result came a day after son-in-law, Ross O’Sullivan had gotten on the board and there was no doubting the merit of it, as the four-year-old daughter of Kodi Bear made the best of receiving the age and sex allowances to gallop away to win by four and a half lengths from the extremely gutsy Alliteration, who had looked like being swallowed up after making the running, but battled back to prove best of the rest.

“Any kind of race at Punchestown is great, particularly at the festival. I’ve been coming here since I was nine or ten,” said the trainer. “I thought she’d run well. Jessie’s horse that won yesterday (Quinta Do Lago) had been behind her on one or two occasions and the handicapper said the four-year-old form was holding up well.

“We’ll keep her, at my age what would I need to be selling her for, I’m an old age pensioner! She’s a lovely big mare; a sound mare and she’s paying her way. It’s a great bit of fun and you couldn’t put a price on a day like today at Punchestown.

“A few quid is one thing but you have to enjoy life as well. When you’re as far into it as I am you want to enjoy every day.”.

The day began with a winner for the champion trainer Willie Mullins, but not from the expected source, as Beauvallon, who drifted from a morning price of 10/1 to an SP of 28/1, was delivered with the latest and widest run by Danny Mullins to deny a gallant Immediate Effect in the Specialist Group Novice Hurdle. As someone who has ridden 33 Grade 1s, with none of them a favourite, the Closutton giant’s nephew knows all about the possibilities on a second, third or fourth-string.

“When you’re riding for Willie Mullins at these big festivals and Punchestown, he wants to get them all there with a winning chance and no matter what price they are, they can all do it,” the jockey noted.

Noel Meade and Donagh Meyler came away from the opener disappointed, as the best the 5/2 favourite, Colcannon could manage was fifth but they would not be denied long, as Meyler illustrated why he has enjoyed such a sensational campaign with a brilliant ride to win the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle on Blue Mosque.

Owned by the High Spirits Racing Club, the six-year-old was another Meade charge that was well supported, going off at 6/1 favourite and connections would have been living up to their name as Meyler flew home late to just reel in The Big Clubman by half a length.

A half-sister to Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner, The Mourne Rambler, who was runner-up in the Grade 1 Race & Stay At Punchestown INH Flat Race yesterday, Blue Mosque is certainly a horse moving in the right direction.

“I was standing beside my nephew David Wright, who is a very lucky guy for me,” Meade related.

“When he stands beside me we have a winner every time! “He said to me half-way down the back, ‘How are you going?’ and I said, ‘I’d need a tin-opener to get out of where we are!’ He got the tin opener working alright.

“We’ve rode her forward before and Donagh said the last day he was going to ride her from behind as he thought she’d be better off when ridden that way. She ran a helluva good race then. He said today that he was going to do the same thing as she enjoys passing horses. It was a great watch, when they get there.”.

Meyler emulated O’Keeffe and completed a quick-fire double on 4/1 favourite, Come Walk With Me in the Frontline Security Handicap Chase.

“He jumped and travelled well,” Meyler enthused. “He was as long at the last as I was all year. He’s what you want in a racehorse and just class to sit on. The way he jumps and travels… everything you’d want in a racehorse.”.

The winner was bred and is owned and trained by Eddie Cawley, who also saddled the third, Don’t Go Yet. Cawley had openly disputed the 11lbs Come Walk With Me was raised following a 10-length victory at Fairyhouse but was more than willing to hold his hands up following this eight-length triumph. Indeed, Cawley is now dreaming of bigger things.

“I thought the other horse would run well but the way this fella did that (was impressive),” said Cawley. “The handicapper was correct and I must apologise but I thought 11lbs was a lot after the faller (Anotherway came down when in front). Let’s hope we can go another step further with him but we’re delighted for today.”