Blood Destiny and Paul Townend © Photo Healy Racing
Blood Destiny reversed previous Punchestown places with Spillane’s Tower when taking the two-mile Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase in fine style.
Spillane’s Tower proved the stronger in the closing stages last time, but this half-mile shorter trip proved a lot more suitable to Blood Destiny.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding normally sets the pace, but Paul Townend adopted more patient tactics on this occasion and it paid dividends. Flanking Maneuver led the four runners until headed by Blood Destiny at the second last and Townend could afford to take things easy on the run-in as the 8/11 favourite kept on strongly to beat Spillane’s Tower by six and a half lengths.
Flanking Maneuver was a further eight and a half lengths back in third.
Mullins said, "“New tactics, I thought that might be a help after Punchestown.
“Paul was very taken with him there. He's brilliant to jump, that was always his feature, but we were making too much use of his jumping instead of just using it when we needed it.
“Coming back in trip might have been a help as well.
“I don't know whether we've made a mistake now leaving him at home for Cheltenham but at least he has one nice prize in the bag.
“I imagine he'll probably go for the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. That was the plan, here and then on to that.
“I know it's two-and-a-half but that two-and-a-half will be alright for him as well.
“I was keen after Punchestown to change tactics and see what he was like riding him that way. It worked for today anyway but it mightn't work everyday.
“I wouldn't have any problem with ground for him. He's a lighter framed horse rather than big heavy ground horse. He'll go on nicer ground and might be faster on nice ground.
“I thought he was struggling on that down the far side.”
Quotes by Gary Carson
