Geraghty full of praise for trainer

Barry Geraghty partnered the consistent Carlingford Lough to victory in the G1 Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup for trainer John Kiely at Punchestown yesterday.

The race saw Noel Meade's Road To Riches looking a likely winner until falling and the Colin Tizzard-trained Cue Card was sent off 4/6 favourite, but could finish only fourth after Carlingford Lough scored by four and a half lengths, with Djakadam in second.

'What a trainer John Kiely is. The horse came from the clouds to win in Leopardstown when Mark (Walsh) gave him a brilliant ride. He couldn't go the gallop at Cheltenham and couldn't go the gallop today but really finished it out,' stated the winning jockey.

'He picked up in the straight and it was a question of how long he could sustain that run. He went all the way to the line and was brilliant,' added Geraghty.

The Dermot McLoughlin-trained Shamiran enjoyed his third success in the opening Martinstown Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle when holding on by a head.

'He obviously likes it around here and that was his third win in the race,' said McLoughlin.

'The ground is a key factor to the horse and we put blinkers on him today. He didn't enjoy himself on the winter ground and coming back here has lit him up. He travels much sweeter on this ground.

'He is still lively at home and shows plenty going forward. We will keep him going over the summer and he could switch between hurdles and fences.'

The attendance yesterday was 18,181 compared to 16,880 on the second day in 2015.