Hilltop gets Buckley off the mark in Ireland

Noble Hilltop proved a memorable winner for Edward Buckley as the Churchill filly was partnered to victory in the first division of the two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle at Punchestown by his son Kieren.

The 16/1 shot came to challenge at the last and got on top on the run-in for a two-and-three-quarter length win over Queen Kulina

It was her first outing for Buckley, who was saddling his first winner since returning to Ireland last year.

“I'm delighted with that. She's a nice little mare,” said Buckley senior.

“She had bits and pieces of form when we bought her and we thought there was a little bit of improvement in her.

“A few of the boys from England thankfully got involved in her. We picked this race out as we thought she wanted two-and-a-half miles, she was staying on over two.

“We worked her a few times and Kieren said she definitely wanted a trip. She won, it doesn't often happen like that!

“I've been here since last April, I was in England for 40 years. I was in Pipes for 20 odd years, both with Martin and David. I was there in the good old days of Carvill's Hill.

“I trained under my own name for a while in the early 90s. I had five winners from 50 runners and 45 of them weren't off! I only had a handful of runners.

“We started off here doing a bit of pre-training and breaking, there are lots of yards around Meath. Then I got the restricted licence and a couple of lads I know very kindly sent me a few horses.

“I'm based in Lee Valley near Ratoath, I rented a yard there off David Eiffe.

“We have a few youngsters and they all look great until you run them. We have a couple belonging to Jim Bolger, a nice juvenile that will run in July.

“I'm originally from Wexford hence the Jim Bolger connection. That was the first place I went to as a 15-year-old.

“He said he'd support me and fair play to him he did. He's always been good that way.”