Harrington flying High with poignant treble

Jessica Harrington completed a fine day's work at Punchestown today when completing a treble in the concluding Kildare Post Bumper with High Stratos on a poignant day for the leading trainer.

Harrington had having earlier seen her Macnicholson and Jetson (at Grade 1 level) triumph and following High Stratos' 14/1 success under Robbie McNamara, the trainer, whose husband Johnny passed away on April 11 stated “someone 'up there' is doing a lot of pushing.”

She added “I have him about ten weeks and I knew he won at Worcester but when he came to me I built him up. He has only done a couple of bits of work and while the last one was good and I was happy with him coming here, I'd no idea about the ground or things like that with him.

“They went a good gallop and Robbie said unless he cut out four furlongs out, he was always going to win. He didn't even hit him and it he did he'd have shot clear. Robbie said the ground was probably as quick as he'd want it and he jumps really well and is well schooled.

“The idea was to go hurdling but the way he won there, a mile and a half on the Flat wouldn't be out of the question.”

High Stratos' 14/1 win completed a poor set of results for punters with other wins coming at 10/1, 25/1, 20/1, 20/1, 25/1 and 5/1.

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson