The Tide Turns and Jack Kennedy© Photo Healy Racing
The Tide Turns (9/4f) entered the Triumph Hurdle picture with a winning jumps debut at Punchestown today scoring a comfortable win in the dramatic opening Hollywoodbets Bet €10 Get €20 Maiden Hurdle.
Twenty runners were led from flag-fall by The Role Model and Kodi Moma but the pair both fell at the first flight, leaving Igraine to lead The Tide Turns for much of the remainder of the race. Champion Green the 5/2 second-favourite, pulled hard in mid-division during the race and was pulled up quickly before the fourth hurdle by jockey Mark Walsh, who lost his irons approaching the obstacle.
At the business end of the race, The Tide Turns, under jockey Jack Kennedy, led travelling well before the home turn and while a little slow jumping the final flight, stayed on well to beat Hms Seahorse by two and three parts of a length.
Paddy Power bookmakers later cut The Tide Turns to 25/1, from 50s, for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Following the race winning trainer Gordon Elliott stated “he's a grand horse. I thought he was professional, he jumped well and did everything right.
“Jack said he was probably in front plenty soon enough but you'd like the way he ran.
“He'll be a nice fun horse and he's a horse that will mix it between the Flat and hurdles all summer. He'll go on any ground, he won on the all-weather so I'd imagine he'll go on good ground.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
