Barry Geraghty (purple and yellow, right) on Alelchi Inois, chases down Davy Russell and Sadler's Risk© Photo Healy Racing
Some of them had plenty of 'zip' left in them at the finish of the two and three quarter mile Bet In-Play With The Ladbrokes App Chase, principally Alelchi Inois who justified favouritism for Luke McMahon and Willie Mullins in the hands of Barry Geraghty at Punchestown.
Eventual runner-up, and the third home, Sadler's Risk and First Lieutenant couldn't be faulted for their efforts, but Alelchi Inois (13/8) was able to find another gear on the run-in to score by a length.
They left First Lieutenant five lengths back in third, with twenty lengths to the fourth, Val De Ferbet
It wasn't a surprise to hear Geraghty remark in the aftermath that Alelchi Inois gave him "a great feel."
Mullins himself was out walking the track before withdrawing fancied horses in the maiden hurdles.
He said later: "Alelchi Inois loves that ground and the plan is the Galway Plate. He'll have another run beforehand."
The Stewards fined James Joseph Mangan, trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Perfect Promise 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.
(AM & EM)
