Updated 20.15
JEZKI SEALED A hat-trick of wins over the legendary Hurricane Fly in an absorbing renewal of the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle.
JP McManus’s star took up the running as the two rivals pulled clear of the field to fight out the finish at Punchestown.
The 5/2 second favourite had the stamina to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths and deny Hurricane Fly (6/4F) an unprecedented 23rd Grade One success.
Zabana (20/1) finished eight lengths back in third.
Bookmakers immediately made Jezki, trained by Jessica Harrington, a 6/1 shot for the 2016 World Hurdle at Cheltenham.
“He was keen the whole way,” jockey Mark Walsh said after scooping the €120,000 prize.
He never dropped it. He settled down for the first two or three hurdles and for some reason he just lit up and he was in my hands the whole way.
This was the ninth clash between Ireland’s hurdling stars but their first time stepping up to three miles.
It was Jezki who benefited most from the easy pace set by Thousand Stars to add another Grade 1 to his Aintree success and finish the season in style.
It brought up a double on the day for Walsh who earlier won the Three.ie Handicap Chase on board 10/1 shot Jacksonslady in the McManus colours.
Later, another of Willie Mullins’ superstar team, Un de Sceaux justified his 1/10 odds with an easy win in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase.
RTÉ reported a bet of €200,000 to win €33,000 was laid shortly before the race went to post, and while 16/1 shot Just Cameron chased him home, the result never looked in doubt thanks to a flawless display of jumping in the hands of Ruby Walsh.
Results
15.40 Murray Spelman Handicap Hurdle
1st Bog War (5/2F)
2nd A Sizing Network (20/1)
3rd Seeyouallincoppers (20/1)
4th Equity Swap (20/1)
16.15 Three.ie Handicap Chase
1st Jacksonslady (10/1)
2nd Upazo (11/2 2Fav)
3rd Ned Buntline (7/2 Fav)
16.50 La Touche Cup
1st Uncle Junior (6/1)
2nd Quantitativeeasing (13/8 Fav)
3rd Keep On Track (7/1)
17.30 Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle
1st Jezki (5/2 2Fav)
2nd Hurricane Fly (6/4 Fav)
3rd Zabana (20/1)
18.05 Donohue Marquees Handicap Hurdle
1st Avant Tout (20/1)
2nd Rogue Trader (8/1)
3rd Pleasant Company (9/4 Fav)
4th Never Said That (16/1)
18.40 Ryanair Novice Chase
1st Un de Sceaux (1/10 Fav)
2nd Just Cameron (16/1)
3rd Ted Veale (20/1)
19.15 Orchid Transport Mares Novice Hurdle
1st Whiteout (8/1)
2nd Uranna (4/1)
3rd Lyrical Theatre (2/1F)
19.45 Kildare Post INH Flat Race
1st Yorkhill (5/4F)
2nd Ok Corral (6/1)
3rd Up For Review (11/1)
