Ninth Grade 1 win for Lynch

Andrew Lynch landed his ninth Grade 1 race of the season when steering the Dermot Weld trained Hisaabaat (4/1) to win the AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown today.

Lynch moved Hisaabaat to challenge along the inside rail before the straight, improving to lead approaching the final flight before staying on well for a half length win over Ut De Sivola

Afterwards Weld, who had just one runner at the five day Festival, said “Hisaabaat has been a very consistent, tough horse and got a lovely ride from Andrew.

“He has progressed throughout the year and ran a smashing race at Cheltenham, having won his Grade 1 before that. I was a little worried about the two miles and the extra half a a furlong at Cheltenham but he got it.

“He is a horse who could make a Champion Hurdle horse one day but I doubt it will be next year as it is tough for five year olds. He'll keep progressing and maybe in two years' time he will make into a Champion Hurdle contender.

“There'a a big flat handicap in him, he is a ten furlong horse on the Flat and I would say Pat Smullen will be keen to ride him but he might go out to grass now.

“He can run keen in the blinkers and I wasn't convinced he would run up the hill at Cheltenham if he ran free-ly but on the tighter track today, we put them back on.”

Boylesports make Hisaabaat a 33/1 chance for the 2013 Champion Hurdle.