3 minute read

Dancing City followed up his Grade 1 victory at Aintree with a success in the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

It was a race full of Cheltenham form, with Dancing City heading the market ahead of Albert Bartlett winner Stellar Story and the Martin Pipe victor Better Days Ahead.

Proven stayer Stellar Story set the pace in the early stages of the contest and it proved to be a tactical affair, with plenty of chances turning for home.

Paul Townend was always confident aboard Dancing City, settling the Donnolly family-owned gelding midfield before coming with a run on the outside.

He hit the front over the last flight and it was stablemate High Class Hero who proved the main competition, pushing Dancing City all the way to the line. Better Days Ahead stayed on for third.

Jockey Paul Townend was pleased with the performance, saying: "He was (a good winner in Aintree) and I thought he had a hard race the last day.

"He has danced every dance, so to turn up here and perform was a big performance.

"He was disappointing at the start of his career, but he is more than making up for it now.

"In Aintree, when I left the back straight, I thought I was stuffed and, by the time I got into the straight, I was back on the bridle so he is a little bit deceiving."

Trainer Willie Mullins said: "It just shows how tough he is that he's been to every racing Festival, it takes a lot of doing. It all goes well for the future going over fences.

"He did quite well coming back from Aintree. We haven't done that before – Cheltenham, Aintree, Punchestown. It looks achievable so we might do more of it in the future!

"He didn't show how good he was until we went out in trip.

"High Class Hero ran very well and looked for a minute that he might upset Paul."

Paddy Power shortened Dancing City from 14/1 to 10/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at next year's Cheltenham Festival.