McConnell bags first Punchestown festival winner Trainer John McConnell has made good gains in recent times and bagged his first winner at the Punchestown Festival today as his Pearl Of The West landed the Grade B Killashee Handicap Hurdle under jockey Robbie Power. The daughter of Teofilo was today registering her seventh career success when beating Cosmo's Moon by a length and three parts and afterwards McConnell stated “it didn’t work (making the running) in Ayr and we didn’t want to break her heart again so we said lets try something different and if it doesn’t work it doesn’t work. “I was worried about the ground but the lads that came in after the first hurdle said it was beautiful ground so I had no excuse. She handled it really well and is a super talented mare. “It looked surprisingly easy when she hit the front as she can hit flat spots but she travelled really sweetly today. She’s very genuine and a brilliant jumper. We’ve had a lot of fun with her and hopefully we will continue to.” McConnell, who trained 29 winners in 2018 and registered Listed and Grade 3 races success with Go Another One this year, added “she’s going to have to go for another big handicap hurdle so maybe something like the Galway Hurdle and I’d also like to get a bit of black type with her. “We’ll probably mix it with the flat but she jumps so well she probably has a better chance of winning over hurdles.” Third horse to finish Man Of Plenty was subsequently disqualified as his rider Connor Brace failed to draw the correct weight on weighing in. Quotes from Alan Magee
