McManus' Cup Final keeps things in the family

Leading owner J.P. McManus registered his fifth winner of the week at Punchestown today when Cup Final kept things within his own family, winning the Grade C Murray Spelman Handicap Hurdle for English trainer Nicky Henderson.

Five to one favourite Jury Duty effectively threw away his chance when hanging towards the stands side on the run-in, allowing jockey Robbie Power, on Cup Final, a chance to challenge in the closing stages. The winning son of Presenting passed the post almost alongside Jury Duty before the Judge confirmed the Henderson trained runner the short head winner.

Afterwards winning trainer Nicky Henderson stated “obviously with all the hail showers and rain things (ground) have changed dramatically and it's getting tough going out there,” said Henderson.

“Robbie (Power) said he wasn't travelling from a very early stage but he crept and crept and it was a brave ride to come from there.

“He was just good enough and I was standing with Rich Ricci and a few others (watching the race). They said yes (for his photo-finish win) and I said no - I would have settled for half!”

Cup Final is out of top racemare Asian Maze, who is in turn out of mare Mazuma whose own son Quantitativeeasing himself won the earlier La Touche Cup, for McManus and trainer Enda Bolger.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson