Polished Steel wins opener on Day Three at Punchestown

Robbie Power won the first race of the post-Ruby Walsh era at Punchestown today as the jockey steered Polished Steel to win the opening JLT H'cap Hurdle for trainer Jessica Harrington.

The son of Jeremy was clear when Power secured a good jump at the final obstacle and on the run-in kept the gelding going for a length and three parts win over Sil Ver Klass

Afterwards Harrington, who won the race in 2014 with Macnicholson and in 2017 with Bobabout, reported “it’s been a lucky race for me.

“He (Polished Steel) was always going to come here and had a break before Fairyhouse. He stood off too far at the second hurdle there, made a terrible mistake and then never jumped another hurdle.

“We decided today to change the tactics if he would settle and we put ear plugs on which helped him settle in front.

“He likes a bit of nice ground. He can cope with soft ground but not heavy. He’ll probably go for a mile and a half or mile and three quarters race on the Flat next.”

Quotes from Alan Magee