Ultra Pride returns to form for Colgan/Lavery

Ultra Pride bounced back to form after a couple of below par efforts to take the mile handicap at Punchestown for Robbie Colgan and Sheila Lavery.

The four-year-old gelding was adding to a previous success at the Curragh last year, and challenged on the outer in the straight for Colgan before getting on top inside the final furlong to score by a length and a quarter.

Sydney Blues was always prominent in second with top-weight Castletownshend just a neck further back in third.

Lavery said, “I was very disappointed with him last time in Leopardstown and afterwards I got a gastroscopy and a lung wash done.

“Robbie said he loved that floating around over a mile and not breaking his stride. He saw it out very well to the line, and we’ll look for more of the same.

“He’s won over a mile and a quarter and been placed over a mile and a half but he’s got faster breezing him at home.

“He loved that ground but I don’t think he’s ground dependent.”