Review punchestown 26th Oct

< Aitmatov gave supporters a fright before staying on too strongly for his rivals to land the Go Racing In Kildare Hurdle at Punchestown.

Paul Carberry made full use of the classy hurdler's stamina as he led all the way over what looked an inadequate two-mile trip, but both Leblon and Jigalo loomed up menacingly on the turn for home.

Carberry got a great response from the Noel Meade-trained 4-6 favourite, however, and the nine-year-old went away in the straight to win by three lengths.

Aitmatov was completing a quick double for the Meade-Carberry partnership after Perfect Smile justified odds of 1-3 with the minimum of fuss in the Dobbins Catering At Punchestown Maiden Hurdle.

Carberry was always travelling easily and it was just a matter of when he would press the button, which he did briefly approaching the last before cantering in by five and a half lengths.

The jockey completed a treble when Gordon Elliott's Fool's Wildcat (8-1) surged clear in the 2011 Five Day Festival Handicap Hurdle and held off Bale O'Shea by a length.< Far Away So Close got off the mark at Tipperary last time and Paul Nolan's five-year-old followed up with a remarkable performance in the Tote Sports Lounge Novice Hurdle.< Hazeymm looked to have the race in the bag when he swept past after Far Away So Close put in a clumsy jump at the last, but the 11-10 favourite rallied under Davy Russell and got back up to score by a neck.

Michael O'Hare's Turner Brown (4-1 favourite), who jumped the final flight in third place, was another to find plenty on the run-in as he took the Punchestown Active Retirement Days Handicap Hurdle by three-quarters of a length in the hands of Andrew Lynch.< Ferris Bueller (33-1) then achieved a similar feat under Nicky O'Shea in the Madigans Bars At Punchestown Maiden Hurdle.

Conor O'Dwyer's charge looked beaten in third at the last before sweeping past another Gigginstown runner, Zagman and then edging out Lean Times by a head.