A double the Punchestown Comment for J P Following on from Jer's Girl earlier, there was another J P McManus winner on day four of the Punchestown Festival when No Comment (7/2) won the Racing FX Flat Race for Philip Hobbs and Jamie Codd. Second on his couple of previous outings, No Comment travelled well to deliver his challenge in the straight, but he ultimately had to work to get the better of Monalee by half a length. "He's had to battle but he travelled very, very well. Mr Hobbs was very adamant that I take a lead for as long as I could, and I hadn't completely gone for him a furlong and a half down," remarked Codd. "When I wanted him he pulled out great. He's a Kayf Tara so he liked the nice ground. He has a lovely attitude and he settled away brilliant. "He's obviously improved from his run over hurdles and I'm grateful to have gotten the ride on him." "J P was kind enough to send him to us in the autumn," said Hobbs. "He was second in a bumper at Ludlow to a horse of Nicky Henderson's who he felt was good enough to go to Cheltenham afterwards. Then he was a good second over hurdles. "I think Jamie was more confident than I was. It was important not to hit the front too early as he's green. "He'll go straight down to Martinstown now for his summer holidays." The Stewards fined David M.O'Brien, trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Ned's Island, in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order. Mr J.C. Barry, rider of Amron Prince trained by J.Motherway, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having gone lame in running. (GC & EM)
