Casa No Mento proved too strong for the home team under Sam Twiston-Davies. © Photo Healy Racing
Father and son, Nigel and Sam Twiston- Davies teamed up to record a rare British victory at the Punchestown festival when taking the Listed Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle with Casa No Mento
A winner on her reappearance at Chepstow in April, the six-year-old missed much of the winter due to testing ground. Successful in three of her four runs over flights, the daughter of Casamento improved on that figure with an impressive display at the County Kildare track.
Held up in mid division in the early stages of the contest, Twiston-Davies crept closer on the inner rail to go fourth after three out, switching out to challenge on the turn into the straight.
Quickening up to lead approaching the final flight, the Ts Equine owned mare stayed on strongly to hold Got Glory by one-and-three-quarter lengths.
Willie Twiston-Davies said:- “She's exceptional. She the only horse I've ever seen that can work with I Like To Move It.
“We dropped 2lb after getting beat by Queens Gamble and we were a bit disappointed but Sam said she wasn't herself.
“She's three from four over hurdles and is the fastest filly we've ever had.
“I rang Patrick Mullins on Thursday when I was in Huntingdon and said 'have you got the entries for Punchestown as I can't see our filly in'. He sent me a screenshot and said 'don't' worry she's in there'.
“I asked him if it was worth bringing her over and he said she had every chance so a bit of the credit must go to him.
“We've always thought she's very good and she proved that today. I think she'll be better again on faster ground.
“We'll probably run her on the Flat now, she's too fast — that's her talent.
“Sam said whatever he wanted to do with her she was there, she's a very pacey mare.
“It's quite fun coming over here and beating the Irish. We had a second at Fairyhouse and Dad said to me 'what are you doing running another one at Punchestown?'.
“We have to come over a give it a go. Willie had five in but you have to try and beat him.
“She's a good mare and she deserves to be there. She's no Lossiemouth but she's very good in her own right and we'll enjoy today.”
Following the defeat of the 7-4f Spindleberry in this race, Paddy Powers now bet 1-10(from 6-5 before racing today) Jack Kennedy, 5-1(from 8-13f) Paul Townend in this years Irish NH Jockeys Championship.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
