The concluding Stars Of Tomorrow Bumper at Punchestown today proved to be an extraordinary race which saw the Willie McCreery trained Exit To Anywhere under Sonny Carey, slipping his eight rivals from the start to make all for a three lengths win.
Exit To Anywhere, backed into 8/1 SP (generally 16/1 in the morning and 33/1 in a place) jumped off quickly and was almost immediately well clear, increasing his lead to a distance at halfway.
Some of his rivals were unable to pick up the chase but eventual runner-up How's The Cad (under Patrick Mullins) and third placed Letter Of Credit (Robbie McNamara) certainly gave the winner far 'too much rope'. Races with clear front-runners are always difficult races to ride in, but the placed horses were never near enough to catch the winner despite making late progress in the straight.
Afterwards McCreery stated "I'm delighted with that as it is my first bumper winner!"
He added "he ran with the 'choke out' on his debut and and I told Sonny to ride him whatever way he was happiest. He gave him a great ride and the horse is now for sale - he jumps great."
The winner was having his first run for McCreery while it was also former professional jockey Sonny Carey's first racecourse success since returning to the amateur ranks.
