Jackson is leading Lady for Walsh

Mark Walsh partnered his 70th winner of the season as Jacksonslady took the Three.ie Handicap Chase in great style at Punchestown.

The Philip Dempsey-trained mare brought her career tally to ten wins under all codes when sprinting clear on the run-in at odds of 10/1 to beat Upazo who suffered some interference at the third last, by five lengths.

The 7/2 favourite Ned Buntline held every chance but couldn't find any extra on the run-in to finish a further two and a half lengths back in third, with Usa in fourth. Grey Gold was pulled up after a terrible blunder at the second, while Ludo Et Emergo and Dick Dundee both fell three out with Fosters Cross brought down.

Ludo Et Emergo's rider Robbie Colgan was stood down for the remainder of the day.

Dempsey said, "She's been great for us and has won over all trips. She has a lot of speed at home and is still very enthusiastic for a ten-year-old mare. She settles in, Mark gave her a lovely ride and they went plenty fast.

"She is going to stud and it's great to get that. Hopefully she'll go to Galway. Probably for the Plate which is the obvious race. She could have a little break now."

Walsh, who only returned to action recently after missing two months with a broken arm, said "They went such a quick gallop over the first three or four and I was further back than I wanted. But she winged the three fences down the back and got herself into position.

"I was there a mile too soon and at the second last she was looking around her and missed it. Once I got after her she took off and galloped all the way to the line."

(GC & AM)