McManus on the mark with Pure Genius

Leading owner J.P. McManus had one winner from 32 runners at this week's Cheltenham Festival and was on the mark at Downpatrick today with his Ted Wash trained Pure Genius in the Randox Rated Hurdle.

Pure Genius was a 52L winner of his maiden hurdle at Punchestown in January and while beaten subsequently at the Dublin Racing Festival, today returned to winning ways under jockey Mark Walsh, who was successful on the Gavin Cromwell trained Vanillier in Friday's Albert Bartlett Hurdle.

Six year old Pure Genius travelled well for most of the 2m2f race and eventually beat Bold Enough by a length and three-parts.

Trainer Ted Walsh, without a runner at Cheltenham but whose McManus-owned Any Second Now runs in next month's Aintree Grand National, later reported "he (Pure Genuis) won over three miles at Punchestown, he stays and he jumps and will make a nice chaser next year. He's a big, scopey horse.

"Maybe he'll run in Punchestown next - Fairyhouse is coming up in two weeks time and might be a bit quick for him."

Quotes from Michael Graham