Pyke seals Punchestown treble for Mullins and Townend

Kappa Jy Pyke completed a Punchestown treble for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with victory in the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Maiden Hurdle.

The French recruit had to make do with the silver medal when an odds-on favourite for his Irish debut at Cork last month and was an even-money shot to go one better at the second attempt.

Always up with the pace, Kappa Jy Pyke looked to have a real race on his hands on the run to the final flight, with market rival Don’tstopthemusic being produced with a well-timed challenge.

However, the latter suffered a crashing fall, leaving the Mullins runner in the clear and he had 17 lengths in hand over the eventual runner-up Brave Brigadier at the line.

Townend said: “It was a nice performance. He built on Cork well in every sense, jumping wise and the freshness was gone out of him with the benefit of the run.

“I thought he quickened up smartly down the straight. I was actually quite taken with him.

“The horse that beat us in Cork (Sky Lord) ran well in the race before (finished fourth in Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle), so the form was there if he built on it and I think he did.

“I didn’t know how the horse behind me was going but I was still picking up and I thought it would take a fair one to go by me.”

Finny Maguire steered Nine Graces to a clear-cut victory in the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Amateur National Handicap Chase.

Barry Connell’s charge was an 11-4 chance to go one better than when second in a mares’ chase at Fairyhouse last month and was not hard pressed to score by four lengths from Prince Zaltar.

“We were kind of expecting that, she’s very fit,” said Connell.

“When she was running over hurdles, off a higher mark, three miles on soft ground was what she wanted.

“Her jumping was a revelation there, she was very quick. She’s not the biggest mare but she’s just very accurate.

“She might squeeze in, off her revised mark, into something nice – a nice staying handicap chase like the Leinster National in Naas.

“I’m delighted for Finny, who is working full time for us. He’s getting the opportunities as we’re splitting the rides between Sean (Flanagan) and himself. He’s a very good rider.”

The father-and-son team of Edward and Kieren Buckley combined to land the Sky Bet Build A Bet Beginners Chase with surprise winner Ney.

Following previous spells with Prunella Dobbs in Ireland and Danny Brooke in Britain, the seven-year-old was a 33-1 shot on his first start for new connections having been off the track since June and not run over obstacles since March 2023.

The seven-year-old jumped well on what was his chasing debut and was ultimately well on top as he passed the post with two and a quarter lengths in hand.

Trainer Edward Buckley said: “It’s his first run for us and it’s all down to Kieren. He said to me that the horse was going through the sales ring in Doncaster, I knew nothing about it, he said that he had won on him in Cork and he’d been in England for a while.

“I said we’d have a look at him and made a few phone calls and got a lad to have a look at him to make sure he wasn’t missing a leg or anything! I bought him online for £5,000 and the minute we got him home, I thought he was a right horse.

“He can’t half jump, he’s a big, strong lad and as brave as a lion. He won like he’d win again.”

Following a Saturday four-timer at Fairyhouse, Gavin Cromwell rounded off an excellent weekend’s work by saddling Londonofficecallin (7-1) to land the concluding Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Qualifier Handicap Hurdle.