Round The Buoy © Photo Healy Racing
The 4/1 favourite Round the Buoy followed up last week’s win at Punchestown when landing the 2m7f handicap hurdle under in-form Kevin Sexton.
Bred by the Queen, the son of Henrynavigator chased the leaders early before improving to dispute the running three out. He raced towards the second-last in company with Iridiscent who had made a big move from the rear of the field with half a mile to travel. The winner left that rival in his wake on the run to the final flight and stayed on strongly to score by seven lengths as Iridescent could only plug on at the one pace. Round The Buoy whose improvement has coincided with the fitting of blinkers, was defying a 12lb hike in the ratings for last week’s breakthrough success.
Winning trainer David Dunne, who was on lead-up duties, said: "He ran twice in three days when he won at Punchestown and came out of the win with massive confidence and I was really confident today.
"We got 12lb for winning and people were saying it was harsh but I didn't think it was that harsh and the runner-up, who pulled 12 lengths clear of the third horse, won yesterday.
"I'm delighted for the owner Noel Nugent as a lot of owners would have pulled the plug on him because he was weak and backwards and didn't look like he had a lot of ability.
"I have 10 riding out, things are going great and that's the second winner of the year."
Quotes from Thomas Weekes
