Shamiran wins Punchestown opener Day two of the Punchestown Festival started 65 minutes later than scheduled, in dreadfully wet and miserable conditions, with the opening Martinstown Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle going to the Stephen Nolan trained Shamiran, under Ian McCarthy. McCarthy, against all odds in the conditions, steered as straightforward a course as possible in the 25 runner handicap, riding the son of Polish Precedent prominently. The pair moved to head front-running Weekend Millionair before the final flight and stayed on well from the last to record a two and a half lengths win. Afterwards Nolan said “the last time at Cork a horse fell in front of him and he lost about six lengths. He loves the ground and he won a handicap hurdle here before. That's only his third run of the year but we'll give him a little break and he will be aimed at the Galway Festival.” Winning jockey Ian McCarthy added “the ground is perfectly safe and the horses are getting through it. “My lad took a 'tug' on the run to the first hurdle but I was able to steady him up everywhere I needed to, to suit myself, and he's a tough little horse. We were going into the unknown stepping him up to two and a half miles and with these conditions but he has galloped all the way to the line.”
