Search
Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
- Home
- News
Michael Graham
Hot Voice roars loudest in Gowran Park
Hot Voice gets the better of White Pepper
© Photo Healy Racing
Luke McAteer drove Hot Voice home in the opening seven furlong nursery at Gowran Park.
In truth this was a race that very few horses got into on the soft to heavy ground. Creative Mojo and White Pepper jostled away at the head of affairs with Hot Voice taking closer order in third at the halfway stage , just in front of Valderrama
The quartet were clear of the remainder as Creative Mojo cracked turning for home. White Pepper went on and was chased into the final quarter of a mile by Hot Voice.
The latter got on terms at the furlong pole and soon grabbed a narrow advantage. White Pepper battled him all the way home, however, Hot Voice won by a neck for trainer Jim Bolger.
The winner was returned at 11/2 having been available at 12/1 this morning. Runner-up White Pepper was also popular from an opening show of 9/2 down to 10/3.
She was 10 lengths clear of third-placed Cisco Disco at 16/1 (from 22/1).
"I always thought he'd be a horse capable of winning,” said McAteer.
“When he straightened up today I always thought he was going to win. Hopefully he'll improve from that and win again.
“It's testing out there and I'd say you wouldn't want to be too far away. I'm delighted that he went and did that.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson