Second causes another upset in Moscow Flyer

Any Second Now confirmed the great promise of his 66/1 shock Navan debut win when following up in the featured Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

The Grade 2 event has an illustrious roll of honour in recent years including the likes of Vautour, Douvan and Min, and Willie Mullins was expected to continue his dominance as Crack Mome was sent off the 4/11 favourite.

The Clonmel maiden winner held a narrow advantage over Runfordave at the final flight, with Any Second Now back in third.

However the J P McManus-owned gelding jumped the last by far the better of the trio, and kept on well on the run-in to provide his rider Mark Walsh with a double on the card.

The 6/1 chance had a length and a quarter to spare over the hot favourite, with Runfordave another two and three quarter lengths adrift in third.

Winning trainer Ted Walsh said, "It's a pleasant surprise again but not as big a surprise as the first day. I would have been disappointing if he didn't run well. I was quite happy turning into the straight that he was going to be a good third with two fair horses in front of him.

"When he got by Gordon’s horse I thought Ruby had a bit more in the tank but he joined him and he's done it well. It's a sharp two miles around here and I was worried about that.

"It was basically a winners of one. It was down as a Grade 2 but every one of them had won one race.

"It's a sharp track but his jumping was very good. I thought a few times during the race he was going as quick as he wanted to be and I said to young Ted 'he'll get caught out if he misses one'.

"He was good though. It's only the second run of his life and he's come from having a tour around in a maiden hurdle at Navan to racing so it was a big step up. If he had gone to Navan fancied and got a few slaps you'd say he learned something but he cruised there to win.

"It's great to have him and the right man has him as he won't be for sale. He could be a very good horse. He's a big raw sort of a horse and I'll leave plans to Frank and JP. They have loads of ammunition and I'm sure they won't be rushing him.

Any Second Now lands the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at @punchestownrace on only his second start: pic.twitter.com/HCKZc0j9Pu

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 14, 2017

"When Vautour won this you had no doubt he was a Cheltenham horse. The same with Min and Douvan. I would say if you were looking for a runner he'd run respectably but for me to say he'd win at Cheltenham after that - to be honest I'd say you'd be clutching at straws.

"He'll improve well. I'll leave it to the man that owns him to make that decision whether he wants to go to Cheltenham. He'll have an entry anyway. It's nine weeks away and he'll probably have another run in the meantime.

"We could maybe look at the Deloitte which is five weeks away. We'll keep him to the better tracks, the likes of here, Leopardstown, Naas, Navan or Fairyhouse."

Paddy Power cut the winner from 33/1 to 16/1 for the Supreme Novices Hurdle, while Betfair Sportsbook go 20/1 (from 33's).

(GC & AM)