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Review punchestown 29th Apr

Wed 29th Apr 2009, 19:40

< Notre Pere (15-8 favourite) cemented his position at the head of the Irish staying chasing tree by grinding his Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup rivals into submission.

Relishing the testing conditions, Jim Dreaper's Welsh National hero was always prominent and took a clear lead after jumping five out.

His stamina came into play from that point and he galloped all the way to the line to cross it 13 lengths in front of the staying-on Schindlers Hunt with Scotsirish third.< Dunguib rates as one of the best bumper performers in years and emulated last year's winner Cousin Vinny by adding the Paddy Power Champion INH Flat Race to his Cheltenham triumph.

Philip Fenton's star made effortless headway from towards the rear to take up the running approaching the home turn and the result never looked in doubt.

The 9-10 market leader crossed the line nine lengths ahead of Sweeps Hill without breaking sweat, with Luska Lad third.< The Midnight Club utilised his stamina to get up late in the Madra Dog Food Novice Hurdle.

Willie Mullins' 7-4 favourite, third in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last time, looked booked for minor honours at best when Healys Bar and Sam Adams quickened away on the run to the last, but he found a second wind after jumping the obstacle and denied the latter by three-quarters of a length.

Mullins followed up when J'y Vole (5-1) proved a different class to her rivals in the Ulster Bank Handicap Chase, landing the valuable prize by 14 lengths from The Sawyer and the trainer completed a hat-trick courtesy of 5-4 favourite Jayo in the Three.ie Novice Chase.< Montana Slim trained by Michael O'Hare and ridden by Keith Clarke, sprung a 25-1 surprise when beating Valley Of Giants by 11 lengths in the Martinstown Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle, while the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle went the way of Jessica Harrington's No One Tells Me (6-1).

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