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Apache gets job done at Punchestown

Wed 16th Oct 2013, 16:00

Apache Stronghold (nearside) jumps the last with Clonard Lad and The Job Is Right is back in thirdApache Stronghold (nearside) jumps the last with Clonard Lad and The Job Is Right is back in third
© Photo Healy Racing

Things may not have gone entirely to plan but Apache Stronghold was still up to making a winning jumping debut in the 10 Euro Admission All Non-Festival Racedays Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown under Davy Condon.

The Milan gelding's hurdling wasn't as fluent as connections expected, and he had to battle on the run-in to see off Clonard Lad by a short-head. They got a bit close when locked in combat and indeed the result was only confirmed after a steward's enquiry.

Noel Meade trains Apache Stronghold for Mrs Patricia Hunt and he said: "He's a very good jumper at home but Davy said he made a mistake at the first which just frightened him a bit.

"He's a nice horse and hopefully he'll go on from here.

"Because of the way the weather has been I thought he'd need it and he wouldn't have run without getting that rain this morning.

"He'll come on a tonne from that – both in terms of fitness and his jumping experience."

Meanwhile Condon's summation went as follows: "He'll probably come on a stone for that.

"He jumped very careful after getting a bit of a fright at the first. He'd only ever schooled over the easy-fix hurdles before.

"He's having a good blow after it too so he'll come on fitness-wise as well.

"When he got over the last he had a bit of a look – he was probably saving a bit for himself.

"I pulled out wide in the straight as I wasn't going to chance going down Ruby (Walsh on Clonard Lad, 2nd) or Barry's (Geraghty on The Job Is Right 3rd) inner. He should be a nice horse to look forward to." (AM & EM)