Search
Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
- irishracing.com
- Punchestown
- News
- Truckers makes no mistake this time around
Truckers makes no mistake this time around
The feature race on the final day of the Galway Festival, the Connacht Tribune Handicap Chase went to the 3/1 favourite Truckers Delight for his trainer John Hanlon and his jockey Conor O'Farrell.
Having won around the course before and after claiming a valuable Handicap Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, the 10yo was well fancied to win here on Tuesday, however after travelling well approaching the last a bad mistake there put pay to his chances, as he eventually finished fourth.
He was again well fancied to deliver today as he was sent off the 3/1 favourite and this time around he made no mistake.
Off a strong pace, he settled well behind the leaders. He then made good headway from before the second last. He went second after the last with Norther Bay a few lengths in front, however he reeled him in, on the run-in as he stayed on well to score by five and a half lengths at the line.
Norther Bay plugged on to take second at 11/1 for Eoin Griffin and Barry Geraghty with Scotsirish running another cracker (after finishing fifth in the Galway Plate) with his top weight of 11-10 finishing a further four lengths back in third at 11/2.
Winning trainer John Hanlon said afterwards: "Thank God for that after the week we have had. He always pulls it out of the fire for us.
"He is a real Festival meeting horse. He was unlucky on Tuesday.
"I am so delighted to have at least a winner as I thought I was going to have a good week.
"I thought he would win twice but he was unlucky the first day."
Donal Murphy