Search
Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
- irishracing.com
- Punchestown
- News
- Mister Wilson relishes a battle in Galway
Michael Graham
Mister Wilson relishes a battle in Galway
Mister Wilson, blue and white, just gets the better of Comfort Line
© Photo Healy Racing
Mister Wilson rallied to winning effect for trainer Gavin Cromwell in the rated race over an extended mile in Galway.
The 5/1 favourite was always prominent racing in a close second to Clear Quartz and he began to edge ahead in the final quarter of a mile.
He held the inside path straightening for home and was ridden by Gary Carroll at the furlong pole. They hadn't put the race away, though, as Comfort Line unleashed his challenge and picked them off with 150 yards to travel.
Mister Wilson was nothing if not game and fought back on the inner to get up in the final strides by a head from the 14/1 runner-up. Plunkett suffered a nightmare passage in the straight and finished half a length down in third at 9/1. That performance can be marked up.
Carroll said: "I travelled like a bird everywhere but when I got a neck up on Comfort Line, he just parked. It was just as well he came by me early as it gave me a chance to rally back.
"He handles that ground well, I thought he didn't stay 1m2f at Roscommon the last day but maybe he needed it and on that, he needs every yard of the trip. He wants that ground and hopefully there is more in him.
"He doesn't do anything quickly, he likes to grind it out and I'd say the stiff hill helps him. He should make into a decent enough hurdler."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes