Fr Humphrey leads over the last in Punchestown© Photo Healy Racing
Fr Humphrey (16/1) travelled the farthest distance to Punchestown of all the runners on the card and his trek paid off with victory by just a head in the three mile one handicap chase.
The seven-year-old gelding made the 161-mile journey to the track from Mary Louise Hallahan's stable in Macroom, Co Cork and appeared in fine fettle as he disputed the lead in this contest.
When he jumped the third last he took a two-length lead under Mikey Fogarty. The race boiled down to Fr Humphrey and As De Pique as they came to two out.
Once Fr Humphrey jumped the last he looked for all money to be home but bottom-weight As De Pique, who was last seen winning a point-to-point at Oldcastle in March 2014, really came at the winner on the run-in and was just denied by a head at odds of 18/1 from 25/1 on opening show. Harangue at 10/1 completed the placings four and a quarter lengths back in third.
"He was just looking at the stands a bit. There were some lads shouting at the line and I think he took a look at them," Mikey Fogarty said about the winner nearly getting caught on the line.
"I got him into a rhythm and he jumped well which probably helped him. He was long going down to the last but came up and I thought he had put it to bed.
"It's probably the first time in his life he's been in front and he had a look around. Mary's horses are always very fit and straightforward so I wasn't afraid to let him roll on into the straight."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
