Samcro Blow At Punchestown

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Samcro (blue cap) and Jack Kennedy winning hurdles debut in the 2m maiden. Punchestown. Photo: Patrick McCann 19.10.2017

Samcro’s undefeated record has come to a crashing halt on day four of the Punchestown racing festival.

The Gordon Elliot trained six year old went off as the heavy market favourite in The Champion Hurdle following on from its success at Cheltenham last month.

With just three left to jump however, Samcro under Jack Kennedy fell along with the well-fancied Melon under Paul Townend for trainer Willie Mullins.

It afforded the Jessica Harrington trained Supasundae to power through under Robbie ‘Puppy’ Power for the win with last years winner Wicklow Brave in second.

Afterwards Robbie Power said@ “Maybe we got it wrong and Supasundae should have run in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. I felt going to the third-last Melon was flat to the boards and I was starting to close in on Samcro. We’ll never know the answer, but my horse deserved a bit of luck.”

In better news for the fallen duo and their connections, was that both horses and jockeys were unscathed.

Away from the action which saw yet another top trainers title for the irrepresible Willie Mullins – for the 12th time! His extraordinary succeses continue despite the growing influence of his great rival Gordon Elliot.