Rock On Cassie with winning connections© Photo Healy Racing
Rock On Cassie stormed home to win the mares' maiden hurdle at Punchestown from the clutches of Copper Nation Take Tea the 5/4 favourite, tracked Copper Nation three out but blundered away her chance at that obstacle as she dropped out of contention. Copper Nation swiftly moved on with strong-travelling Derrylinda now in pursuit.
Derrylinda looked to be travelling all over Copper Nation approaching the last as Sam Ewing rode Rock On Cassie into third albeit with several lengths to find.
Derrylinda couldn't get past Copper Nation on the run-in, however, Rock On Cassie picked up very powerfully in the final 100 yards and swept to the front in the shadow of the post.
The winner was returned at an easy-to-back 40/1 and won by half a length from market-mover Copper Nation (16/1 - 15/2). Derrylinda was a length and a quarter further away in third at 6/1. Take Tea came in ninth after that mistake three out.
"We'll take any winner and it's nice for Sam as it's his first winner for us over jumps. He's working in the yard now and he's getting better every day,” said Gordon Elliott.
“They are a syndicate of local lads and it's great for them as it's the first horse they've had with us.
“Jack (Kennedy) was happy with her the first day and he actually wanted to ride her. If he rode her she would probably have been a third of the price.
“They'll have a bit of fun with her and she'll jump a fence in time as well.”
On his team for the Dublin Racing festival he said: “They all seem to be in good form but we'll know more on Wednesday after they work.”
This was Ewing's fourth National Hunt success since switching to the jumps in December. He had initially planned to combine Flat and National Hunt racing but will concentrate on the jumps now.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
