Jezarus a first for jubilant Cribbin

Jezarus took an incident-packed Bishopscourt Cup at Punchestown under an ecstatic Ian Cribbin.

This was Cribbin's first racecourse success on his first ride and he sported the colours of his father Peter Cribbin. Speaker Thomas crashed out at the first and the loose horse ran at the head of affairs and did the field no favours. Boston Spray was badly hampered at the first and almost brought to a standstill.

Jezarus travelled well into the straight and was almost on terms with Alpha Male two out. At this stage, the gambled-on Whisper In Court made progress on the outer to third.

Jezarus improved to lead narrowly at the last from Whisper In Court and Alpha Male and was ridden on the run-in by Cribbin. He soon edged right close to Alpha Male but straightened up close home to go on by three parts of a length.

He was backed in from 11/1 to 15/2 while runner-up Alpha Male was a 9/2 chance. Whisper In Court was backed at big prices this morning before she returned at 11/1 on first start since switching to Michael Grassick. She ran well in third, beaten two and three quarter lengths.

Trainer Ted Walsh said: “It’s great for the Cribbin family and especially the young man that rode him. It’s what Punchestown is all about, the joy he’s got from riding that winner.

“I told him to keep an eye on Barry O’Neill (rider of Alpha Male). He’s ridden about 700 point-to-point winners and he won’t put you too far wrong.

“This horse had leg trouble and was off for a good while. He’s run in a few point-to-points but is no star.

“He’s done what we hoped he might do and he could come back for this race again next year.”

Cribbin has ridden out in Walsh’s yard for the past two years.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee