Banbridge has Punchestown target if weather improves

Michael Graham

Published at Apr 11, 2024, 9:50

Banbridge
© Photo Healy Racing

Banbridge could reappear in Punchestown after disappointing in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Joseph O'Brien's charge was on a hat-trick at Cheltenham after delivering in Aintree and Kempton, but finished out the back on unsuitable soft ground.

O'Brien said: “He'll have entries over two miles and three miles in Punchestown, and we'll have to wait and see.

“We've just had a particularly wet run of it.

“We got a bit greedy in Cheltenham and took a chance on running. It didn't work, but the horse has pulled out well and he'll go again when he has conditions.”

Banbridge has won nine of his 16 races under rules including the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase at last season's Aintree Festival.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Michael Graham

Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.

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