Well backed McManus fav' wins Festival's first

Trainer Enda Bolger and Nina Carberry today started this year's Punchestown Festival with a winner in the opening Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase, run over the banks course, with the J.P. McManus owned 8/13 favourite Wish Ye Didnt

The daughter of Oscar was moved by Carberry to lead where-else but on the inside jumping the Canal Turn fence and from there negotiated the tight bend turning for home before staying on strongly for a comfortable win over Enniskillen

The winner had been well backed from even money this morning and afterwards Bolger stated "I have the easy job getting these horses to train. She's a lovely little filly and flew around there. Hopefully she'll come back on Saturday," said Bolger.

"She had a run here before in November, when she was fourth, and won a four-year-old point-to-point for John Bennett before I had her.

"The jockey on top makes things a lot easier too. She cut all the corners and took the shortest way home.

"Anyone who saw her ride at Liverpool - she pulled it out of the bag big time there and her and the horse were poetry in motion.

"We'll probably claim off this filly on Saturday. It's great to get the week going. Nina said she loved the top of the ground and we could keep her going during the summer."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson