Codd almost there after Punchestown double

It looks like Jamie Codd is all but home five winners ahead of Patrick Mullins for the amateur rider's crown after the dual point-to-point champion doubled up at Punchestown on Minutestomidnight in the Grade 3 Weatherbys General Stud Book European Breeders Fund INH Flat Race.

Codd, earlier a winner on Gordon Elliott's Fayonagh seemed to make his move at precisely the right time, turning into the straight, on the Jonathan Sweeney-trained 11/4 favourite.

Try as Patrick Mullins did on Mystic Theatre he couldn't cut back the deficit and half a length split them at the line.

"It's a brilliant training performance by Jonathan Sweeney. I won a point-to-point on her last year in Lingstown — well over a year ago at this stage," said Codd.

"Then to come back and win a bumper at Wexford before stepping-up and winning a graded race here — it's just a fantastic bit of training.

"Jonathan has a small operation but if anybody looks at his strike rate it's unbelievable. Whenever he runs them they usually win. He's been good to me too.

"I had a great run the whole way. I just wanted to keep her out a little bit so that she'd breathe and relax.

"Once I turned in and got stuck into her she hasn't stopped. It was more idling than anything because she kept finding. She's a smart filly."

"She's very good because she's still very inexperienced. It's Larry's (Murphy, owner) decision whether or not she'll be sold here tomorrow evening at the sale. In an ideal world someone will buy her and leave her with me" commented Sweeney.

"She just works with another horse or two at home. Jamie said he had to get after her a bit but she just idled in front.

"Jamie is an outstanding man. You could ring him and he'd come down to school one before a point-to-point at the weekend. That's what makes him a champion."

The Goffs Punchestown Sale at the track is due to be staged after racing tomorrow evening. There are 20 lots including this winner, Vision Des Flos (winner of Goffs Land Rover bumper yesterday) and The Butcher Said (2nd here yesterday).

(AM & EM)