Foley seals conditional crown on El Barra

Jack Foley sealed the conditional jockeys' title when booting home his 44th winner of the season on El Barra in the Grade A novice handicap chase over 2m5f at Punchestown.

This put him two clear of Jordan Gainford who has one ride at Punchestown tomorrow.

El Barra put in a polished front-running performance and jumped from fence to fence on handicap debut.

Foley had kept plenty in the tank as his mount picked up well after the second last and the pair asserted at the last.

The eight-year-old gelding strode in by six lengths at 8/1. Busselton picked up a runner-up prize at 9/1 and was two and a quarter lengths ahead of 3/1 favourite French Dynamite

Foley said: "That was some buzz! The plan went out the window after I had jumped the first, I was saying 'jeez, I'm not meant to be here!'. I didn't go fast and he just jumped so well.

"Down the back he never missed a beat and he was so clever going down to the last - it was either sort yourself out or be long. In Limerick he was very good at sorting himself out so I left it up to him.

"It is a brilliant win on a big stage especially for Willie. It has been unbelievable (season), I've so much support though - obviously Willie, David Casey, Patrick (Mullins), Ruby (Walsh), Paul Townend, Danny (Mullins), all they want to do is help me. My riding is after improving so much having them in my corner anyway.

"Man and dad always made sure we had the best ponies to give it a proper go jumping. My heart was never in the showjumping and it took them a while to come round with the racing but they love the racing. They are not here today but they will be up tomorrow and there is no doubt they are watching at home. I've three rides tomorrow and I'm actually looking forward to all three of them."

Willie Mullins added: “It was a very polished ride. I think I’m going to use him as my driver. He found his way around all the traffic there and I got held up in traffic and only saw the end of it!

“He’s a very good young rider. He started off with my brother Tom and we saw how good he was. We invited him to ride some of our horses and he’s champion conditional ride this year which is fantastic for him.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee