Bapaume and Paul Townend in action at Cork © Photo Healy Racing
The Follow Us On Instagram @Corkracecourse Hurdle looked a formality for 1/7 favourite Bapaume against much lower-rated rivals and he duly made all and cruised home nine lengths clear of Hammersmith (5/1).
It was the Willie Mullins-trained gelding’s first win since he took a beginners’ chase at Naas in December 2019. The Turtle Bowl 8-year-old was a Grade 1 juvenile hurdle winner at Punchestown in 2017 and was a Grade 2 winner in France the following year.
Winning rider Paul Townend said: 'That'll do him the world of good and all these winners are welcome! (now leads Rachael Blackmore by seven).
"His recent form hadn't been good but you didn't have to go back too far to when he won the (Prix la) Barka in Auteuil.
"He has high class form and was entitled to do that and drier ground helped him as well."
Quotes from Thomas Weekes
