Grand Jury, near side, challenges Ardla at the final flight© Photo Healy Racing
Grand Jury got the better of a stubborn Ardla in Punchestown's maiden hurdle for four-year-olds plus.
The five-year-old gelding was a smooth winner of a bumper at this course in March before being beaten into fourth by the classy Dysart Dynamo in another Punchestown bumper in April.
He went off 2/7 favourite for his first hurdling assignment and tracked Ardla throughout.
Ardla attempted to get him on the stretch after the penultimate flight and it worked as Rachael Blackmore began exerting her arms on the favourite.
He got a crack of the whip straightening for home and challenged the leader jumping the last. Upon touching down he gained a narrow advantage and was driven out to increase the gap to a length and a half close home.
Ardla, who landed a bumper here in September last year, took plenty of credit in second as he was seven lengths clear of Monkstreet (12/1).
“We're happy with that. He had to work fairly hard with Mick's horse (Halford, Ardla) but Rachael was happy with him,” said Henry de Bromhead.
“He's quirky but he was really good and jumped well.
“I'd say two miles may be short enough looking at that, on that ground. It was good he went and got the job done.
“I'd say he'll step up now but we'll see how everything unfolds, with a bit more ease in the ground on a galloping track - I wouldn't like to say anything too rash yet.
“He'll probably have an entry for the novice hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas and probably the novice hurdle at Naas (Lawlors Of Naas Grade 1 Novice Hurdle).
“He's a gorgeous horse and a real chasing type.”
Paddy Power gave Grand Jury a first show of 25/1 for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
