Blackmore doubles up on Pearl

Rachael Blackmore doubled up at Punchestown this afternoon when Artic Pearl came with a strong surge on the run-in to claim the Sherry Fitzgerald Lettings Handicap Hurdle.

The Martin Brassil-trained gelding was pulled up over fences when last seen here in May but was backed from 16/1 this morning into 8/1 on course. Jake Peter kicked for home going to the last in the two-and-a-half mile contest but he was chased down in the closing stages at Artic Pearl got up for a half length success.

“When you grab a hold of this fella he'll always find a little bit more. He just gives you enough,” said Brassil.

“He's a nice type of horse, he won around Leopardstown, and he's unlucky not to have won a few more — the saddle slipped on him one day and he got brought down over fences in Thurles.

“He's adaptable as he's 111 over fences, hopefully he can improve on that.

“We could possibly look at something over Christmas. The plan was today and we'll see where we go from here.”