Review PUNCHESTOWN 30TH APR

First Gold, the first French-trained runner at the Punchestown Festival, made all under Thierry Doumen to land the feature race of the week, the Heineken Gold Cup, in front of 22,000 racegoers.

The 10yo gelding jumped fast throughout the e160,000 event and stayed on well from the home turn to beat Rince Ri by 6L, with Native Upmanship a further 7L back in third.

Foxchapel King (sixth) was injured in the closing stages, and the 10yo will be retired to owner Tony O'Reilly's Castlemartin stud.

Hussard Collonges fell at the seventh, while just 7 runners faced the starter as both Beef Or Salmon and Harbour Pilot were absent due to ground conditions.

'He's suffered from a shoulder muscle problem, and has come back to form this year. Thierry knows him so well having ridden him for 5 years, and today he has proved everything,' said Francois Doumen.

Willie Mullins recorded a 1-2 in the Colm McEvoy Auctioneers Novice Handicap Chase, with Rule Supreme heading Hedgehunter after the last to score by 3 1/2L in the hands of David Casey.

'He will be aimed at the staying handicaps next season such as the Paddy Power and the Irish National, while Hedgehunter needs it softer and will have the Aintree National as his main target,' said Mullins.

The Paddy Power Champion bumper was another Grade 1 race that went for export as Nicky Henderson's Royal Rosa struck the front 1/2m out under Aidan Fitzgerald to beat Royal Alphabet by 3 1/2L.

The 14/1 winner was the final leg of the jackpot, and provided three lucky Tote punters with a dividend of 15,000 euro each.

Paul Carberry will be out of action for at least another week with severe bruising to his left thigh following a heavy fall at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting.

The champion jockey missed out on a winner when Barry Geraghty deputised aboard Harchibald in the four-year-old winners hurdle.

Noel Meade's charge led approaching the final flight, and was driven right out to hold off Bristish raider Master Papa by 1 1/2L.

Jessica Harrington reported Moscow Flyer none the worse for his exit in the BMW Chase here on Tuesday saying 'he's absolutely perfect and just paid the penalty for a lack of concentration.'

The local trainer was speaking after her Aye Aye Popeye belied odds of 20/1 (34.20 on the Tote) when finishing best under Jim Culloty in the 2m novice hurdle.

John Morrison, who trains 3 horses under permit near Jimmy Mangan in East Cork, supplied a shock in the handicap hurdle where Crimson Flower scored in emphatic fashion.

Willie Slattery's mount was sent off at 20/1, but paid 73.80 for a win on the Tote, and went clear early in the straight to beat Black Church Lad by 8L.

Enda Bolger bolstered his great record over the banks course when sending out the front-running Buailtes And Fadas to take the Ladies Cup under J T McNamara.

What Odds (William Codd) stayed on gamely from the front to deny the odds-on Sheltering in the champion hunter chase.

Alan Magee