The Kingdom comes for Meade at Punchestown
Day Two of the Punchestown festival on Wednesday belonged to champion trainer Willie Mullins as the Carlow man dominated the marathon eight race card saddling half of the winners including the three Grade 1 races with The Nice Guy in the Novice Hurdle, Allaho in the Gold Cup and Facile Vega in the bumper.
Gordon Elliott, who had four winners on day one, was out of luck on Wednesday, but Noel Meade struck in the last race of the card then The Model Kingdom won the mares Bumper, while Jessica Harrington won the 2m3f Hurdle with crosshill, ridden by Moynalvey jockey Robbie Power.
Crosshill was under pressure in second on the home bend behind 6/4 favourite Fils d'Oudairies but the lead pair were soon swamped by Classic Getaway who surged to the front before the last.
Classic Getaway was a shade hesitant jumping the last and Fils d'Oudairies hadn't gone away on his inner. It got tight for the latter on the rail on the run-in and it was Crosshill who came home best on the outer to get up in the closing stages at 15/2.
Harrington's mount won by a neck from Classic Getaway (5/1) with Fils d'Oudairies a head away in third, however, the stewards reversed the placings of the placed horses after an enquiry.
“It’s my favourite race (won it in 2021 and 2016). He lost his confidence over fences and was jumping off to one side so it’s fantastic to get that back," said Harrington after the win.
“It wasn’t straightforward today but he’s very tough and he stays very well. Robbie gave him a great ride and there is no better rider around here.
“I don’t know if he’ll go back over fences. Maybe in the summer on good ground he might enjoy it. He’s tough and hardy.”
Moynalvey jockey Power was also delighted to pick up the win and admitted that the use of cheekpieces certainly helped his horse's performance.
"Yeah, they did work - he has been a very, very frustrating horse. He has got an awful lot of ability and didn't quite take to jumping fences the way we hoped he would," said Power.
"He had a run over hurdles in Thurles the last day and ran well. Jessie (Harrington) has done a great job with him, he has really come to himself in the last couple of weeks.
"He does (run in snatches), he has gone behind the bridle a lot. He used to be keen but we thought coming here he had a good chance today and thankfully the cheekpieces have worked the magic.
"I actually thought turning in I had Nico (de Boinville on Fils d'Oudairies) covered but Danny (Mullins on Classic Getaway) picked up on the outside and flew past us and I thought 'oh, that's the race over' but to be fair to this lad, he stuck his head down."
The Model Kingdom retained her unbeaten record by winning the Grade 3 mares' bumper.
The 9/2 chance travelled well behind the leaders before getting a dream run through on the inner approaching the final furlong.
She led inside the final furlong and kept on well for Pat Taaffe to see off 200/1 outsider Beyond Ambitious by half a length. Another 9/2 shot, Battling Bessie, completed the placings in third.
“I’d say the way the race was run suited her as she was very short. She got a stress fracture behind and had to stand in her box for about two months. I don’t know how she is fit but maybe she doesn’t take a lot to be ready," admitted Meade.
“I’d say she will have a break but I have no doubt she could win flat races. She’s a well-bred mare.”
The Model Kingdom had been off since winning a Listed mares' bumper at Navan in November. Prior to that, she won a fillies' bumper at Galway in October.