Chapeau De Soleil (near side) and Brian Hayes© Photo Healy Racing
Chapeau De Soleil provided Willie Mullins with a tenth winner this week at the Punchestown Festival and a treble on the day but it was a first success on the week for rider Brian Hayes in a blanket finish to the SBK Gold Trophy Handicap Hurdle.
The Soldier Of Fortune gelding was held up in this 23-runner €100,000 2m4f event and had at least ten rivals ahead of him approaching the last.
However, the 16/1 chance really got motoring on the run-in and got up on the line to touch off Beacon Edge by a short-head. Moonovercloon was just half-a-length back in third with Western Walk reeled in close home finishing fourth.
A delighted Hayes said, “He was plenty keen and didn’t do everything right. There wasn’t that much pace on and he had a lot to do in the straight but stayed on really well.
“He has plenty of scope and should make a nice chaser.”
