Search
Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
- irishracing.com
- Punchestown
- News
- Dorkas one for horses for courses punters
Michael Graham
Dorkas one for horses for courses punters
Dorkas, far side, fends off the closers
© Photo Healy Racing
National Hunt jockeys' championship leader Rachael Blackmore grabbed another winner through Dorkas (7/1) who made all in Sligo's novice hurdle.
The nine-year-old mare dictated the pace and hugged the rail before seeing off 1/2 favourite Pleasure who closed to within a neck at the end of two and a half miles. Ar Eagla Na Heagla also styed on to be half a length further back in third.
Trainer Jimmy Finn said: “It was a bit of a gamble running her. If we could have pulled her out on Friday we would have but there was no change in ground or anything. She ran a cracker in Cork.
“She's had three runs here now and it's two wins and a second so it's horses for courses.
“She's tough and genuine. It was hard not to run today with just four runners.
“She'll need a little break after that. We'll see how she is after that, we'll go back chasing anyway but if a hurdle turns up we'll see what the handicapper does. She was a few pounds wrong there but experience is a big help.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson