General Principle wins bumper by 22 lengths

General Principle routed the field in the concluding Goffs Punchestown Festival Invitational Sale (Pro/Am) Bumper at Punchestown today, providing his trainer Gordon Elliott with another potentially smart recruit, in the colours of Ryanair's Michael O'Leary (Gigginstown House Stud).

Previously a point-to-point winner for Stuart Crawford before being bought by current connections for GBP80,000 in December, the son of Gold Well sprinted clear of his rivals in the home straight for an impressive 22 lengths win under David Mullins.

Twenty four hours earlier, Elliott, Mullins and O'Leary had claimed Fairyhouse's bumper with Kicking King's sister Whistle Dixie and following today's win, Elliott's assistant trainer Olly Murphy stated "he's a lovely horse and obviously has a big future.

"We haven't had him very long nd he may have one more run in a bumper as we wouldn't want to lose his novice status this season. I wouldn't imagine he'd go to Cheltenham."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson