The concluding Stars Of Tomorrow Flat Race could have been well-named at Punchestown as Staying Article put up a smashing performance on his debut under James 'Corky' Carroll to slam the staying-on Watchmetail by fourteen lengths.
It may have been billed as a match between Joe Smooth and Oscar Hill but once Staying Article took over early in the straight the outcome was quickly decided. The five-year-old sprinted away with odds-on favourite Joe Smooth having to settle for third and the well-backed Oscar Hill disappointing in fifth.
Winning trainer Edward O'Grady said: "I'm very pleased. He is from a great family, he is a brother to the horse (Serein) that got disqualified in the bumper at Fairyhouse last Saturday. His dam is out of Michael O'Brien's Triumph Hurdle winner, Shawiya. It is a great Aga Khan family.
"He had one bit of work and I thought he might come on from this. I'm thrilled as we've been a long time waiting with him. He'll go for a winners race somewhere and we can hope for the moment that he'll be a Cheltenham horse.
"He could be sold and I just hope I can keep him in the yard."
