Paul Nolan's yard in Co Wexford has had more serious things than horses to worry about recently following the death of the team's Dary Cullen, 20, in a point to point fall on Sunday.
However, Accordion Etoile's poignant win in the Grade 1 Swordlestown Novice Chase at Punchestown today was dedicated to Dary and will have gone a small way to help soften the blow for Nolan.
Afterwards Nolan was quick to mention 'this win is dedicated to Dary who is sorely missed; I'd obviously swap all this to have him back but that's just life. He was a smashing lad.'
Regarding Accordion Etoile, Nolan reported 'we schooled him over hurdles after he ran the last day and my instructions to John (Cullen) were simply to 'get around', in order to restore the horse's confidence.'
He added 'he is a good ground horse who is not going to win on heavy ground; his aim for next season is the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.'
William Hill Bookmakers cut Accordion Etoile into 16/1 (from 25/1) for the Champion Chase.
Tom Mullins' admirable mare Asian Maze made all to win the feature event, the E200,000 Whitewater Champion Stayers' Hurdle, under Ruby Walsh.
Afterwards Mullins reported 'Ruby got off her and said she is not a staying mare and is more of a Champion Hurdle horse. I'm just relieved she has won again after having an interrupted season.
'She'll hopefully come back for the Hatton's Grace Hurdle next season.'
Asian Maze was cut from 14/1 into 8/1 with Sean Graham Bookmakers.
Trainer Willie Mullins' dominance of the festival continued, when his Quatre Heures providing him with a sixth winner, in the www.tote.ie Grade 1 Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.
Quatre Heures, ridden by Mick Fitzgerald in place of injured David Casey, was a clear leader at the final flight when stablemate Mister Hight took a crashing fall.
Afterwards, Mullins was quick to praise Casey, saying 'David gave Mick Fitzgerald the riding instructions for the horse and was very unlucky to have injured his wrist yesterday.'
He added 'both Quatre Heures and Mister Hight may go for the Prix Alain Du Breuil (French four year old Champion Hurdle in June) next.'
The annual call for a challenger to Enda Bolger's dominance of the Blue Square La Touche Steeplechase is again upon us, with Bolger's Good Step providing the Limerick trainer with his ninth consecutive winner of the race.
Brilliantly ridden by Nina Carberry, Good Step avoided the trouble at the bullfinch (six out) where Spot Thedifference and Native Jack were badly hampered, and eventually got to the front on the inner approaching two out.
On the run-in Good Step was joined by I'm On The Line but rallied well for a length and a half win.
Afterwards Bolger reported 'Good Step will go for this race again next year when we'll have to throw the kitchen sink at it to get the ten in a row!'
Amateur rider Jamie Codd, busy riding five-timers in point to points recently, landed the opening KFM Hunters Chase on Norman Cassidy's well backed 11/8 favourite Extended Favour.
Jockey Philip Carberry recorded a double, winning the Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase on David Ryan's One Four Shannon (again substituting for David Casey) before partnering John Carr's Roadmaker to win the handicap hurdle.
The crowd figures for Irish racing continues to rise and today's attendance of 19,189 was over 1,500 up on last year's figure.
