Punchestown beats Pasco at Kempton
At the 40% Off On Betfair SP Graduation Chase, which was held at Kempton on Friday for horses of and above five years of age, Pasco was beaten at the final fence by Punchestowns, who gained a victory that would prove to be immensely valuable to trainer Nicky
Henderson as it would be his 2000th victory over jumps. The race was run over a distance of 2 miles and 4 ½ furlongs.
Although, without a doubt, Henderson would have preferred to hit the 2,000 mark in a less stressful race, where his odds-on favourite racehorse would not have to try as hard as he did and where bettors would not proclaim him second as soon as the race began.
It was as unexpected, though relieving, a victory for Henderson as it was for the spectators.
Punchestowns had been jumping stiffly in the early stages of the Chase and it was only when he ran down the far side of the course for the final time that the eight-year-old horse truly began to perform.
The expected winner of the race was Pasco, who held the lead even when jumping the third-last fence. The horse’s bold jumping and front-running performance was reminiscent of Punchestowns’ rival Neptune Collonges and perturbed both horse and rider, Barry
Geraghty but at this point the duo was catching up to Pasco quickly and with much ease.
Like all others involved in the race, jockey Geraghty had accepted his fate to finish second, yet he urged Punchestowns onward in a last attempt to gain some heat on Pasco at the second-last fence of the Chase. He succeeded as the grey managed to bring the
gap between himself and Pasco to just a couple of lengths.
Nearing the last fence, Punchestowns was head to head with Pasco for the finish line and finally overtook the exhausted lead in a brilliant jump to land first place and a historical victory for both owner Wilson and Henderson.
For the future, Geraghty has told Henderson that he believes that it would be better to enter Punchestowns in Aintree and at the Totesport Bowl. Both think that a three mile race is what the horse needs.
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