Ladies rule in Ladies Cup again

Wish Ye Didn't followed up her win from twelve months before by capturing the opening Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup as the 2016 Punchestown Festival began.

Master of this game, Enda Bolger was winning the race for the fourth year in succession, whilst for victorious rider and owner, Nina Carberry and J P McManus, it was a third Ladies Cup in a row.

Wish Ye Didn't (5/4 favourite) beat Enniskillen by ten lengths a year back, and on this occasion they also filled the front two spots, nine and a half lengths being the margin between the pair now.

Never far away Wish Ye Didn't asserted from two out for a comfortable victory.

The winning connections also had well-backed second favourite Strangford Lough in action. He ran encouragingly to fill the third spot, three and a half lengths further back.

"She's a little dinger around there. She's qualified for this race next year so that could be on the agenda," said Bolger.

"She's entered on Saturday but we have several others and we'll just have to see.

"She's just a natural (over the banks), and gets plenty of help from (Nina Carberry) on top."

(AM & EM)