Pure Genius lights up Punchestown Four to one second favourite Pure Genius enjoyed the step-up to three miles in the Ladbrokes Watch Racing Online For Free Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown to overturn odds-on chance Fantasio D’alene. Backed from 4/9 to 30/100 Fantasio D’alene made a mistake six out, and he was in trouble from three out where Sean Hogan fell when in the bronze medal position. Pure Genius (rated 120 coming in here) seemed to love it from the front jumping well and he eventually accounted for a legless Fantasio D’alene by fifty two lengths. Nothinbuttime was forty seven lengths back in third. “He couldn't have done it any easier. He was disappointing up until today and that's the first time I've seen him run to somewhere close to what I thought he was,” said winning trainer Ted Walsh. “He came with a good reputation from France and I thought he was a nice horse last year. “Maybe he wants three miles, heavy ground and moderate horses! “He's a big raw horse, 17 hands, and he might make a nice chaser next year.” Successful owner J P McManus had earlier seen his Coral Cup winner Dame De Compagnie make a successful debut over the larger obstacles at Ayr. In that match event Nico de Boinville guided the Lucarno mare home by nine lengths from Grade One winning hurdler Cornerstone Lad. K.M. Donoghue, rider of Command Chain trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got very tired. Gordon Elliott, trainer of Fantasio D'alene (FR), reported to the IHRB Veterinary Officer on duty that his charge was found to have blood in the trachea on endoscopic examination post race. (GC & EM)
