Razzle dazzles in Punchestown's opener

Front-runner Razzle Dazzle Love (8/1) made all the running for a wide-margin win in the opening Irish Racing Industry Fundraiser Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown today as the Tom Gibney trained mare scored under jockey Darragh O'Keeffe.

The free-going daughter of Winged Love seemed to slip the field when winning a bumper at Galway in September but today proved that result to be no fluke, as she readily shook off her nearest pursuers and eventually beat runner-up Hamundarson by 23 lengths.

Gibney wasn't present and afterwards jockey O'Keeffe, who was beaten 42 lengths on Razzle Dazzle Love at Navan last month, said “I was very adamant about making the running on her today and she did it very well. She jumped brilliantly.

“When Mark Walsh (on eventual third Pure Genius came to me at the second last she picked up.

“She was very good. The last day it was probably the wrong trip as the 2m4f stretched her a bit, and she was a bit keen that day.

“She's a nice big mare and she'll jump a fence in time.”

Quotes from Gary Carson