Hamilton has family success at Punchestown

‘STOCKDALE’ supplied a family success when recording a 50/1 victory at Punchestown for Downpatrick trainer, Brian Hamilton on Monday. The local winner was always handy and travelling well prior to leading before the last and keeping on in game fashion to prevail by a neck, as ‘Merry Doyenne’ laid down a determined challenge in the mares maiden hurdle.

Hamilton said: “She has just improved with every run. The last day she ran here, she was a wee bit novicey jumping. She jumped a bit better there today. The bit further just helped with her jumping. Even though her price was 50/1, we did expect her to run respectable. I thought she would finish closer to Gordon’s mare (‘Humble Glory’), but I wasn’t expecting her to win to be honest. Her jumping was a bit slicker there today and the trip has obviously helped her too.

“Jonny (Moore) was saying the ground wasn’t just as dead as you might have expected. He rode wide the whole way, which was probably a help to her too. I think she would be better on a wee bit of better ground, but I haven’t looked any further than today.”

The winner, while owned by the trainer, was bred by his father, Brian Senior and Hamilton added: “My father has had that family for about 50 years through various mares and she’s only five and not many of the produce have won at that age, so hopefully she’ll go on and improve again.”

Moore added: “She ran well here the last day and took a big step forward from Leopardstown in December. I thought the trip would suit, but that it might be too hot a race on paper. I went very wide the whole way – I thought I was too wide, but it probably ended up being the best position, as it was lovely fresh ground. In fairness to the mare, she toughed it out and hopefully she can continue to progress in the future.”