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Review PUNCHESTOWN 26TH APR

Wed 26th Apr 2006, 18:38

With none of the other runners willing to set the pace it was left to War Of Attrition to put up a fantastic front-running performance in the Guinness Gold Cup.

In very much the same way as at Cheltenham, his brilliant jumping was very much in evidence but he also displayed the turn of foot that he possess' when asked to go and win his race.

Beef Or Salmon hardly ever jumped as well as he did here and along with his stable companion, Hi Cloy, held every chance approaching two out.

However, Conor O'Dwyer's mount was in full control going to the last where he got in close but fiddled it in highly economic style, crossing the line 2 1/2L in front of the staying-on Beef Or Salmon.

Owner, Michael O'Leary said in the aftermath, this is fantastic, beyond my wildest dreams, and it is an outstanding training performance by Mouse Morris.

Conor O'Dwyer couldn't hide his admiration, he wasn't mad about making it but I had to, and to do that in a race like this - he is something else.

Mouse Morris meanwhile said, he is learning every day and mentally he is getting more into it. The great team I have at home deserve plenty of credit for it.

Second, third and fourth placed, Beef Or Salmon, Hi Cloy and Watson Lake all ran their races whilst a bad mistake six out ended the hopes of Forget The Past.

Ruby Walsh completed a treble, at odds of nearly 182/1, beginning on a couple of mares at the start of the programme, helping Willie Mullins to win number five at the Festival.

Josephine Cullen has been progressing with experience and she put in her best performance yet by easily beating Very Green by 8L in the 4yo winners of 1 hurdle.

A half-sister to several winners including the Cheltenham bumper winner, Joe Cullen, this one was bred and is owned by Jackie Mullins, wife of the winning handler.

Euro Leader was bred by Maureen Mullins, mother of Willie, out of her winning mare Noreaster. The Kerry National hero was a decisive well-backed victor of the h'cap chase.

Walsh got Euro Leader to the front before 2 out and he stayed on well to beat fellow joint favourite, Ross River by 1 1/2L. The Galway Plate is now on the 8yo's agenda.

There was a second English-trained market-leader in the second, Prairie Moonlight, but she could fare no better than tenth as Brogella ran out a fairly comprehensive 2L winner.

Frances Crowley's charge was coming into this off a 118 day break when she was covered but she failed to go in foal, and she soon has a date with 2003 Derby winner, Kris Kin.

Walsh, now assured of another jockey's title, said of this Grade 3 winner, she jumped and travelled and she kept at it well.

Concerns about the ground nearly led to Noel Meade taking Leading Run out of the Paddy Power Champion Bumper but he'll be glad he didn't as the 7yo kept his unbeaten record.

The half-brother to the nine time victor, Strong Run, has yet to meet defeat in four runs and under Nina Carberry he got the better of a tremendous battle with Hairy Molly by 1/2L.

Lord Over stayed on very well for third, to be just a short head further back. Meade described the 4/1 favourite as a super horse, one of the best in the yard.

The Last Hurrah, with just one win to his credit from sixteen starts, that being a flat maiden when under the care of John Oxx, got off the mark at the seventh attempt over flights in the 2m h'cap.

Andrew Leigh, riding his 14th winner, was aboard this one for his boss, Jessica Harrington. Favourite, Reisk Superman didn't enjoy the run of the race, finishing a never-nearer 4th.

Tigerlion was a most fortunate winner of the novice h'cap chase as he was lying fourth when first, Rubberdubber (2nd at the time) and Brutto Facie (3rd) fell two out.

This left Tiger Cry in a clear lead but he came down at the last. The John Bleahen-trained Michael Darcy-ridden Tigerlion then fought off Chetwind Music by 2L.

Whyso Mayo followed up his Cheltenham win in the concluding Cox's Cash & Carry Champion Hunters Chase for Ray Hurley and Damian Murphy.