Fortunate Hardwired wins Punchestown's Amateur National

Ted Walsh's Hardwired (11/4jf) registered a third career win today, as Alex Harvey's mount capitalised on a late blunder by runner-up Bonnie Kellie to win Punchestown's concluding SkyBet Build A Bet Amateur National Handicap Chase.

The eight-year-old took 22 runs to shed his maiden tag at Kilbeggan last summer and, in October, gained his second success over today's 2m7f course.

In today's race Hardwired was strongly pressed by strong-travelling Bonnie Kellie when that rival blundered badly at the second-last, leaving the winner well clear. Beaten Bonnie Kellie again erred at the last, with Harvey riding-out Hardwired on the run-in for a hard-fought six lengths win.

Walsh said “he's a lucky old horse but he's a bit of a toe-rag.

“I'd say he was beaten as the horse (Bonnie Kellie) looked to be cantering alongside him. He (Harvey) said he wasn't doing a stroke and when the horse disappeared he nearly pulled himself up.

“He's after winning three now though and he is out of a good mare (Summer Star) who Katie used to ride and she won four times on.”

Quotes from Gary Carson