Beat That (left) and Don Poli© Photo Healy Racing
Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty combined for further Grade 1 success today, when Beat That defeated eight rivals to win the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
The pair were without stable star Sprinter Sacre for virtually all of the season but still combined for their fifth Grade 1 winner, when the Michael Buckley owned son of Milan fought off the challenge of Don Poli from the last, for a three parts of a length win.
Henderson, having his second winner in as many days of this year's Festival, later said “he had a very tough race at Aintree and Barry said he didn't quite feel the horse that he did then.
“He hasn't had many races and doesn't know much about life yet but he's a very progressive horse. I said to Barry afterwards 'what'll we do now?' but really we don't have to make up our minds and we can think about it over the summer.
“We've got him and Whisper who both look like three miles chasers but we could be tempted to keep one of them over hurdles next season.”
Paddy Power later cut the winner to 10/1 (from 16s) for the 2015 World Hurdle with Boylesports going 12/1 for that same Cheltenham race.
By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee
