Ireland's longest race the Mongey Communications La Touche Chase at Punchestown today was won by the Peter Maher trained Ballyboker Bridge who proved a winning spare ride for jockey Sea Flanagan.

Flanagan was a late call-up as intended rider JJ Slevin was stood down having received a fall in the opening race and made the most of the opportunity, despite not having walked the idiosyncratic 4m2f course.

Rounding the home turn, Flanagan sent Ballyboker Bridge into a clear lead and the pair stayed on strongly on the run-in for a 25 lengths win over Vital Island

Winning trainer Peter Maher was ecstatic following another win at his favoured festival but the win was his first in the prestigious race. He said “to win this again means everything. There is nothing like the banks races as it requires top courage for riders and horses. A lot of races have been modified but that’s the last gladiator stand left.”

“Ballyboker was always a good horse but he doesn’t stay. You have to nurse him around and he got his own way for a bit and he filled up and went away again.

“If he gets a breather he’ll stay well but he used to run very keen with the choke out when he was younger.

Maher also sent out the fourth-placed horse Mtada Supreme now 14, in the race and afterwards he mentioned “Mtada is a great horse but like myself he’s getting on a bit, and that will be his last Festival.”

Quotes from Alan Magee