Off The Charts (nearside) and Urano© Photo Healy Racing
The J.P. McManus owned Off The Charts heaped further hardship on punters at Punchestown today when winning the Naas Court & Il Fico Restaurant Handicap Hurdle at 20/1, for trainer Dessie Hughes and jockey Mark Walsh.
Off The Charts was following the shock wins of Jetson (20/1) and Jacks Island (25/1) in the previous races and was crediting Walsh, remarkably, with his first Punchestown festival winner since 2003.
Hughes later said “the trip suited him and the first-time visor also helped. The last day at Fairyhouse I got the impression he didn't kill himself but he carried him all the way today.
“Normally when you're chasing one of Willie Mullins' over the last (Urano) they don't come back but luckily he did and he stayed on well after that. He's not over big and he won't carry a huge amount of weight but hopefully he'll win another one.”
By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson
