McNamara guides Sea to big success

Andrew McNamara gave Tranquil Sea a great ride to land the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Steeplechase for owners Dermot Cox & Nelius Hayes and trainer Edward O'Grady.

Tranquil Sea, knocked off the head of the market by Cooldine took over from that front-runner before two out. Big bold jumps at the final two fences were a help to Tranquil Sea as he held off the fast-finishing J'y Vole by three parts of a length.

O'Grady said: "I'm delighted and he might go straight for the Ryanair now. He hasn't many options between now and then and Christmas is very close now anyway where he would have to run either over two or three miles.

"This was always his pre-Christmas target and I'm delighted that he has achieved it. I'm pleased too that he has reversed Ryanair form with J'y Vole. Last season he ran too close to Cheltenham and we'll try to make a better job of it this time.

"He has options after Cheltenham too. It was unfortunate for a horse like him that they had to miss out on three fences in this race but he's overcome that."

Tranquil Sea was shortened to a general 6/1 for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.