Commandingpresence well named on Irish debut

Henry de Bromhead looks to have a good prospect on his hands in Commandingpresence who demolished the opposition in Punchestown.

The five-year-old gelding had finished runner-up, by 20 lengths, in a point-to-point in January in Britain but left that form well behind on Irish debut.

He raced close to the pace and was on the shoulder of Clondaw Bertie who picked up the lead after the third last.

Rachael Blackmore asked him to go and win his race approaching the home straight and he shot clear.

He had the race in the bag at the last where he survived a mistake to come home by 15 lengths at 14/1. Dakota Beat came through for second at 5/1 by a head from Fest Deiz (10/1).

“It was a very good performance. He's been doing his work well at home and it's great to see him do that,” said Rachael Blackmore.

“He was second in a point-to-point in England and that was a very good performance for his first run. It was great to get a start like that.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson