Fourni beats Marconi in Punchestown opener Flat trainers dominated the opener at Punchestown, the Kildare Hunt Club Supporting Kildare GAA Maiden Hurdle, with the Willie McCreery trained Fourni getting the better of Aidan O’Brien’s Marchese Marconi. Owned by McCreery’s wife Amanda, the five-year-old daughter of Rakti won a bumper at Galway on her last start in September, beating the smart Shesafoxylady (subsequently won a Listed bumper) into second. Making her debut over hurdles this afternoon, she was 10/1 this morning before opening on-course at the massive odds of 33/1, the price at which she returned. All the money came for the runner-up, and after opening at 5/2 this morning he was backed on-course from 7/4 into 11/8 clear favouritism. High Stratos, who a bumper over the course and distance at the Festival earlier this month, was the early morning 2/1 favourite but he proved friendless, going from 11/4 to 10/3 on-course. Settled in mid-division, the Mark Walsh ridden victor took closer order after three out, and she progressed into third as they entered the straight. She hit the front before the last and despite a slow jump there she kept on well on the run-in to see off the ‘jolly’ under Robbie Power by four and a half lengths. Elsie kept on to take third a further length back under Paul Townend for Tom Mullins at 7/1, while High Stratos finished a well-beaten tenth. Willie McCreery said afterwards: "I didn’t think she was ready, but she loves to jump and she was making ground at every single hurdle. "If you look at the form of her bumper I was surprised she was as big as 33/1, and at that price I had to have a few quid on her. "She is an honest little filly and she will run on the flat." After the race Davy Russell, rider of High Stratos, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount jumped poorly throughout, while Jessica Harrington reported that the same horse lost a hind shoe in running. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
