Charlie Swan, partnering his first winner since riding Joe Cullen to win the Cheltenham bumper, conjured up a courageous run from Topacio in the IAWS Champion Four Year Old Hurdle to keep alive a very real dream for the Pearse Racing Syndicate.
The winning syndicate, spearheaded by former Galway hurling captain Joe Connolly, have bought five racehorses and hope to sell shares (#5000) in the animals, with the aim to raise #5 million to build a new 35,00 capacity Gaelic football stadium in the west of Ireland.
Topacio put in a fine leap at the third last flight to head the weakening Eternal Night. The winner did not look troubled in the home straight and pulling away from the last, extended his stride to comfortably hold Aintree winner Lord Brex by two and a half lengths.
Winning trainer Pat Hughes said: 'He was disappointing at Fairyhouse last time out and he needed every inch of the two miles today.'
Academy award winning actor Sean Connery is sure to have a glistening mantle piece, shimmering with all that depicts one of Hollywood's finest. If Risk Of Thunder, his extraordinarily successful racehorse, had a mantle piece in his stable box, the collection could look just as impressive.
Risk Of Thunder, ridden by shaven headed Ken Whelan, today joined one of racing's most elite clubs by trouncing his nineteen rivals to win the La Touche Cup for the sixth time.
Risk Of Thunder wrote himself into the history books, becoming only the third horse to win the same race on six or more consecutive occasions. The others being Dr Syntax in the 19th Century and Brown Jack in the last century.
Ken Whelan, winning over the banks course for the fifth time, set the pace from the off and a mistake at the 11th, a bush fence, was the only cause for concern. Left clear nine fences from home, Risk Of Thunder had a comfortable 20L in hand over his closest rival, Little Len, turning for home.
The heaving grandstand cheered home the appreciative winner, who pricked his ears crossing the line with a distance to spare over the fast finishing Famfoni in second.
The four mile one furlong race, ridden over the unique Punchestown banks course, is the first leg of a four leg competition which could take the Enda Bolger-trained winner to France and the USA, although Bolger himself admits that it would be 'some task to accomplish.'
'He will probably go for the Marlborough Cup next. The other legs take in France and the USA, but it would be very difficult to win all four,' explained winning trainer Enda Bolger.
'It would be nice to be able and come back to win this next year,' he added.
Trainer Michael O'Brien will now aim Dovaly at the Galway Plate after the seven-year-old made all to win the Grade 2 Castlemartin Stud Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase.
Tom Rudd, riding his 14th winner of the year, maintained a hectic pace throughout that proved too much for Irish Grand National second Foxchapel King and Triptodicks.
Foxchapel King looked to be travelling well in the back straight but looked one paced when Shay Barry asked for an effort approaching the last.
The winner, landing a gamble in the process had two lengths to spare over Foxchapel King and Triptodicks. The Quads ran a game race and looked like being placed until thundering through the last, virtually grinding to a halt and eventually finishing fourth.
'He is a great lepper and stays well. Usually if you spat on the ground this fellow could not handle it,' quipped O'Brien.
Ruby Walsh rode his fourth winner of this Punchestown festival when scoring on Killultagh Storm to land the opening Weatherbys Hurdle. Walsh's mount travelled sweetly throughout the two mile event and moved into a challenging position approaching the last.
Walsh needed to plug away at the winner, but on landing Killultagh Storm powered up the inside rail and had one and a half lengths to spare over Winter Garden at the finish. Winning trainer Willie Mullins indicated that the Killarney meeting in two weeks time will be the geldings next outing.
Tony McCoy celebrated his 26th birthday if fine style when driving out Wave Rock to win the Frank Ward & Co Solicitors Novice Chase, gifting trainer Philip Hobbs with his second winner of the festival.
The Frances Flood-trained Forever After got up on the line to deny Surprising victory in the concluding Kilkea Castle Hotel Flat Race by the shortest of distances.
