Opera continues Harrington's excellent run

Trainer Jessica Harrington has her horses in excellent health at present and registered her eighth in six days when Woodland Opera landed the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle at Punchestown today.

Ridden by Robbie Power, the son of Robin Des Champs improved to lead jumping the final flight and in the end stayed on well for a two lengths win over Val De Ferbet

Harrington, whose recent wins included a Listed flat race at Gowran with Bocca Baciata and yesterday's Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle with Don't Touch It, later stated “he was very tight to the second last and was not really going anywhere. But we he got out and rolling he pinged the last.

"He had a wind operation after running at Leopardstown and it seems to have worked. He just couldn't breathe. He'll definitely go chasing next year.

"He's out of Opera Hat who Valerie (Cooper) also raced and was trained by my brother John (Fowler, to win 15 races). Opera Hat produced nothing until Valerie's son Patrick bought her in England and gave her back to Valerie as a Christmas present and Woodland Opera is her last foal."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee