Keith Donoghue steers Darver Star home© Photo Healy Racing
Top-weight Darver Star put in an impressive performance to land the featured Paddy Power Feel Like A Favourite Hurdle over 2m2f in Punchestown for Gavin Cromwell. Abacadabras went off an easy-to-back 4/6 favourite but raced in third and dropped to fourth three out where he wasn't fluent. Jack Kennedy soon pulled him up.
Darver Star led early, but was passed after the second flight by Dollar Value who adopted his usual front-running tactics.
His lead was greatly reduced racing towards the second-last as Darver Star and Typical Thomas closed. Typical Thomas made a mistake there and soon came under pressure a few lengths off the front pair.
Dollar Value felt the heat as Darver Star raced upsides approaching the home bend. Darver Star moved on in the straight and took several lengths out of a tiring Dollar Value at the last.
The 5/4 eased right away to score by seven and a half lengths from Typical Thomas (80/1).
Jockey Keith Donoghue said:- “That was brilliant. He lost his form a bit but he's coming back now and that was a great performance today.
“He's at his minimum trip today, as he's getting older he doesn't have the same gears.
“He likes to take you along but the whole way I was just going as quick as I wanted.
“I was cautious about letting Dollar Value off because I'd won twice on him before and I thought he was my danger in the race.
“When I came off the home bend, he came on to the bridle and he was away with me.
“I knew Dollar Value was going to come past me, I knew he was a quicker horse than my lad and that he'd take it off me.
“I was hoping my lad wouldn't get disappointed when he came past me and he didn't. He's so genuine, he loves jumping and his confidence is really high at the minute.”
When asked if he was surprised that Abacadabras never appeared to challenge, he added:- “I didn't think he was a danger in the race, I thought Dollar Value was my danger.
“I didn't fear Abacadabras at all as he had a disappointing run the last day.
“My only fear was Dollar Value having the gears to get too far ahead of me.
“I'd say he'll aim high now and take on Honeysuckle in the Hatton's Grace (at Fairyhouse). He pushed her to half a length before and he'll be going in there the fit horse with his confidence high.
“Don't get me wrong Honeysuckle is unbelievable and if we finish second to her we'll be delighted. I can't wait, I love a Grade One especially at a Meath track.”
This made it three in a row over hurdles for 10-year-old gelding Darver Star who was third in the Champion Hurdle of 2020.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
