Punchestown plan works for One Track Mind

Staying hurdle 'experts' Warren Greatrex and stable jockey Gavin Sheahan combined for Grade 1 glory at Punchestown today as their One Track Mind landed the featured Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle.

The pair combined to win the 2015 World Hurdle at Cheltenham with Cole Harden and today unearthed another smart staying hurdler as the son of Flemensfirth gained his first top level success.

One Track Mind's task was simplified slightly by the final flight fall of Shaneshill but the winner did hold a clear advantage over that rival at the time and in the end held off runner-up and retiring mare Jennies Jewel by two and a quarter lengths.

Greatrex later stated “I came here for the first time last year and loved it so we brought a little team this year and this is brilliant!

“This has been the plan for most of the season and it depended on how he ran at Haydock; he ran a blinder there and improved from that.

“We said this could be his Gold Cup today and planned all season long for it.

“He's a brilliant jumper and he'll go chasing next year. He's big and raw and we've brought him along slowly and he'll improve again with another summer.

“Gavin has always loved him and persuaded Andy (Weller, owner) to buy him as he's his sponsor.”

Weller himself added “my heart can't handle it but he's done brilliantly!

“Gavin followed the directions immaculately and it's been the plan for many months to come here for this.

“Warren has done a fantastic job with him and to win a Grade 1 here is fantastic.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson