3 minute read
Willie Mullins’ top-class hurdler made a pleasing switch to life over the larger obstacles when a ready winner at Punchestown on Tuesday.
A three-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles, which featured victories at Leopardstown, Aintree and Punchestown, Dancing City was understandably sent off a warm 2/5 market leader to make a winning debut over fences.
That said, Henry De Bromhead's Mossy Fen Park and Gordon Elliott's Shannon Royale brought some solid chase form to the table, making it by no means a walk in the park for the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old, who suffered his sole defeat last season when third behind Stellar Story and The Jukebox Man in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.
A shuddering mistake at the fourth-last from stablemate Olympic Story, who was still travelling with plenty of zest at the time, firmly put Dancing City in pole position. The son of Feel Like Dancing jumped well in the main under Townend and after producing another solid leap at the last, victory was virtually assured. Gordon Elliott's Shannon Royale put in plenty of good work to get within a length and a half of the winner, who always looked to be doing enough out in front to keep the runner-up at arm's length.
"I had to give him a belt going to the last to make him concentrate and he jumped it well. Then when we heard another one coming, he went on again and wasn't for passing," said Townend on Racing TV.
"All in all, it was a great start. He was clever when he had to be and sorted himself out. Very happy overall.
"I was happy enough to take a lead, but I didn't break stride and let him gallop along.
"I think he'll improve plenty like all of ours are, especially starting off over that kind of a trip. He took his blow, had a look and went on again. Very happy overall."
Paddy Power were suitably impressed and cut the winner to 6/1 (from 10s) for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, while Coral left him unchanged at 10/1.
Dancing City's victory formed the first leg of a four-timer on the card at Punchestown for trainer Willie Mullins, with the progressive Hey Sunshine completing her hat-trick in Listed company before You Oughta Know and Kitzbuhel both impressed over hurdles. The latter was making his stable and Irish debut when beating the 146-rated Colonel Mustard and was subsequently introduced at 50/1 to the Champion Hurdle market by Paddy Power.