Irish National long-term plan for Jarob

Jarob completed a hat-trick when getting up in the closing stages to defy topweight in the Punchestown November Festival Christmas Fair Handicap Hurdle.

The Andy Lynch-trained gelding was sent off the 11/4 favourite having won a similar 2m4f event at Bellewstown in August before successfully switching to fences at Navan last month. May Dullea made a bold bid from the front and looked set to score when holding a two-length lead at the final flight.

However Jarob dug deep under a strong drive from Finny Maguire on the run-in, and got up to score by half a length with Akito staying on well just a head away in third. Balinaboola Prince was injured on his way to the start and unfortunately had to be put down. A 10 cent in the euro deduction to board prices only was applied.

Lynch said, "That was great. I thought they went a bit slow early on which didn't help me as he needs a gallop. He's going to get a break now and come back in the spring when he'll go back over fences.

"When the ground stayed good for us I said we'll take another few quid. Hopefully we'll run him in the Irish National if he gets a bit quicker over his fences. He wants three miles."

Maguire's claim is reduced to 5lb following this 20th career success.

(GC & AM)