Gracemount gains deserved win

Upped in trip and with a hood deployed for the first time Gracemount gained a deserved first racecourse success in the Sign Up To Betdaq Today Mares Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown.

The point-to-point winning daughter of Beneficial has picked up prize-money on most of her nine attempts inside the rails.

Here Mark Walsh's silky touch did the six-year-old no harm either as the very talented Kildare pilot took the reins for the initial occasion.

The sweet-travelling Gracemount asserted from before the last. It may be that she got a bit lonely then close home, but she'd done enough to hold her dogged fellow County Wexford runner, Nerual by half a length.

Owned and bred by the Kavanagh family, Gracemount is trained for them by nearby handler Sean Doyle.

He said: “It took a while to get that (win) but she was crying out for a trip and she stepped up well today. We had a great summer with her but I think she could be a better mare on softer ground.

“She’ll jump a fence in time as well. She travelled beautifully and Mark was grand and confident on her. He said she wasn’t doing a whole lot in front but there was nothing getting by her.

“I’m delighted for the Kavanagh family. They breed a few of their own and don’t get much success with them but I’m delighted to have this one and hopefully she will give them a few more days out.”

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Good To Flow trained by P.A.Fahy, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

(AM & EM)