White cap blue body Robbie Power races on for victory aboard Woodland Opera as stable companion Bright Tomorrow falls© Photo Healy Racing
Many still held chances in the straight in the Grade A EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase but who else would come to the fore when it mattered most than Robbie Power on a Jessica Harrington horse, the gambled-on favourite Woodland Opera landing the spoils in the two mile five furlong event at Punchestown. Arbre De Vie Balko Des Flos and Kilcarry Bridge all ran well in second, third and fourth places but Woodland Opera saw it out best to prevail by three parts of a length, a length and a quarter and two and a half lengths.
Power, leading rider in the Lemongrass Fusion Punchestown Festival leading jockey table on five winners, said: "This has been the plan for a long time for this lad — since Christmas.
"When I rode him in Leopardstown I said to Mrs Cooper (owner) that he'd win this race and thankfully it's worked out.
"He loves this better ground and he had his wind tweaked after Christmas and it's made a difference too.
"He's seen it out real well — on heavy ground he doesn't quite get home."
For her part Jessica Harrington revealed: "He was the one I really fancied all week. He probably doesn't get home over two and a half (miles) on soft ground but he does on that ground. He just made one mistake at the fourth last but other than that he was foot perfect.
"I don't know if we will put him away or not. We haven't discussed it. He hasn't had very much running this year, and he had to have another wind op.
"There is such a lovely story behind the horse. He's the only progeny out of Opera Hat to win a race. Patrick (Cooper) found her (Opera Hat) in England barren and bought her and presented her to his mother (Valerie) on Christmas Day."
D.N. Russell, rider of Diamond King trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having emptied at the latter stages of this race.
M.P. Walsh, rider of Le Prezien (FR) trained by Paul Nicholls (in GB), reported to the Clerk of Scales that he pulled up his mount as he did not feel right.
(AM & EM)
