Fury Road and Jack Kennedy© Photo Healy Racing
There was no real issue for Fury Road in justifying odds of 4/11 in the Grade Two Unibet 1000th Race Celebration Hurdle at Punchestown.
Doubling Gordon Elliott’s score after Pencilfulloflead rsquo;s success earlier under Rachael Blackmore, Fury Road was getting the job done on his first start since Cheltenham in March.
Of course he was beaten just a neck and a nose in the Albert Bartlett then, and it was no surprise to see Jack Kennedy keep things simple on the class horse of this contest.
The Stowaway gelding made all. He slowed and put himself right at the last, giving a small chink of light to Dewcup
Mark Walsh soon switched that fellow right, to the inner. However Fury Road wasn’t long about asserting, crossing the line three and a half lengths to the good.
Gigginstown House Stud own Fury Road and they also had the third, Baptism Of Fire two and a half lengths back.
Paddy Power go 12/1 from 16/1 about Fury Road for the Stayers Hurdle.
“He was only dossing out in front and got in under the last a little bit. He’ll come on for that and I’m happy with him," reported Kennedy.
“I was only hacking around the whole way and he’ll be better going a stronger gallop and a bit further.”
Meanwhile Elliott said: “He’s in the Hattons Grace but that will come quick enough and he’ll probably go for the three miles Grade I at Christmas.”
(AM & EM)
