Bishopscourt 'jolly' proves Goodenough!

Ireland's most idiosyncratic race, the much loved Bishopscourt Cup, was another race saved from the rain-hit Punchestown Festival and the rearranged KFM sponsored Hunters Chase today went to 11/10 favourite Mr Goodenough for trainer and owner John Robinson.

The race, confined to “the bona fide and unconditional property of farmers farming land in the Kildare Hunt District and in their possession since 1st January 2012. Sons and daughters of persons qualified to enter, working on their parents farms and who have no other occupation, are eligible to enter horses”, saw a worthy winner in Mr Goodenough.

The Tetratema Hunter Chase winner, again ridden by Roger Quinlan, eventually proved much too strong for a big field, seeing off the challenge of 33/1 chance Brave Eva by six and a half lengths.

Afterwards Robinson stated “Mr Goodenough might go handicap chasing now. With the penalty system in hunters' chases, he would have to carry 12st 7lbs in next year's race and he isn't a big horse.

“He will go out on his holidays now as he wants soft ground and will probably go handicap chasing later in the year.”