Please Talk shows his talent

Please Talk certainly did his talking on the track today and looks a horse with a bright future after scooting up in Punchestown’s opening maiden hurdle over two-and-a-half miles against 19 rivals.

Noel Meade’s five-year-old gelding by Beneficial was heavily backed in the ring from 4/1 to 5/2 on the off. Jockey Paul Carberry always had him racing prominently and the pair stretched away before the last to win by four-and-three-parts-of-a-length.

His main market rival Notforconverting and Patrick Mullins took second place at 7/2 (easy to back from an opening show of 3/1) while A Fine Young Man came home third at 4/1.

Please Talk delighted his handler Noel Meade who spoke highly of him afterwards. He said: “He’s a lovely horse, a gorgeous horse. From the first minute I saw him down in John Halley’s I loved him.

“Thank God I ended up with him! Whatever he does over hurdles is a bonus as chasing is his game. He has a real good pedigree, he loves soft ground and he stays well.

“He’ll go for a novice hurdle in about a month’s time. I was very disappointed he got beaten in his bumper the first day [third at Fairyhouse 16 Nov]. He ran a bit flat. Maybe the ground was a bit quick for him.”

Please Talk is 20/1 for the Neptune Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham with bookmaker Stan James.

Michael Graham