Bolger and McManus win Punchestown's opening race

Blue Templar made it third time lucky in the KHC Fr Sean Breen Memorial Ladies Cup at Punchestown today, the opening race of this year's festival, as the gelding gained a belated first ever career win to lead home a 1-2 for his trainer Enda Bolger and owner J.P. McManus.

'King of the banks' Bolger has overseen the eight year's career since debuting over hurdles at Leopardstown back in December 2015, and while he filled third place in the 2017 renewal of today's race and failed by just a head in last year's renewal, he was getting off the mark at the 18th career attempt today.

Ridden by jockey Ray Barron, the half-brother to top racemare Asian Maze today shook off the challenge of front-running stablemate Youcannotbeserious in the home straight when scoring a three and three parts of a length win.

Both horses carried the colours of J.P. McManus and afterwards Bolger stated “I just said to the owner he’s a patient man as he's an eight year-old maiden! The other horse (Youcannotbeserious) is classier but the experience around here told.

“We’ll see how he is but he may come here for the La Touche on Thursday. He seems to be fine and fresh, and he ran twice last year as well. The ground is not too taxing either.

“It gets the week off to a good start.”

Quotes from Alan Magee