Jazzaway (green/white colours) © Photo Healy Racing
Jazzaway was the narrow winner of the Grade B Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown today as the Willie Mullins trained mare provided winning Whitegrass Racing Syndicate with a memorable spell telly-side.
The syndicate had two scheduled runners for the busy 25-runner handicap but, pre-race, as RTE Zoomed live to member Liam Cullinan, their Getaway Gorgeous unseated rider, galloped loose and evaded capture, in a 'never work with Animals' on TV moment.
Getaway Gorgeous was caught and eventually withdrawn but in the race, Jazzaway made her way through horses to force a photo-finish with Call Me Lyreen and minutes later was called the short-head winner.
RTE briefly returned to chuffed Cullinan draining water from a Harp pint glass, with winning trainer Mullins reporting “it is great for the Whitegrass Racing Syndicate who've had an off and on winter.
“That puts a bit of a shine on their season. Jazzaway will be kept on the go and we'll look for more opportunities for her.”
He added “it's good that Conor (McNamara, winning jockey) is starting to click and his 3lbs claim is very useful in these big handicaps. It was great for him to get a victory like that.
“I lost a bottle of champagne to Richie Galway (Punchestown racing manager) as he said 'you held on' and I said 'I didn't'. He said he'd bet me a bottle of Bollinger.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
