IF it ain't broke, don't fix it. That seems to be Tony McCoy's attitude to the Punchestown Festival and it can pay off in spades with victory on Quakers Field in today's Murphys Irish Stout Champion 4-Y-O Hurdle.
Last year, the British champion jockey flew in for the last two days of the Festival and left as the meeting's leading rider with four winners. This time, McCoy also missed out the first day and while the leading rider title may be beyond him, the most valuable race of the day will no doubt be tolerable compensation.
The Gary Moore-trained colt only made his hurdling debut at Lingfield on March 22nd and a formidable home reputation saw him go off long odds on only to be turned over by Seattle Alley.
In those circumstances running him in the valuable Glenlivet Hurdle at Aintree looked to be ambitious but the Lingfield experience had clearly made an impression as he stormed home an easy winner from Far Down and Circus Star.
What really impressed, however, was the way he recovered from a mistake at the fifth Hight and then amazingly circumnavigate the field to lead at the third last. Such manoeuvres usually bottom horses but the way Quakers Field powered on indicated he could well be far from the usual.
One slight concern is that Quakers Field hung left on the run in but it's still hard to visualise Circus Star reversing the form. A bigger danger may be the Dermot Weld-trained Stylish Allure, disappointing in the Triumph Hurdle but a winner on fast ground at Fairyhouse afterwards.
He gave the impression there might not have been a lot left in the tank that day, however, and Quakers Field looks a reasonable bet to overpower him and the 11 others.
McCoy's hopes of adding to that though are likely to be stamped on by two of his greatest rivals. Both Richard Dunwoody and Charlie Swan will fancy their chances of doubles, particularly Swan on the Champion Hurdle runner-up Theatreworld in his first attempt at three miles in the IAWS Stayers Hurdle.
Theatreworld has some top form over two miles but his snatchy racing style has always promised to be better suited over longer distances. Aidan O'Brien is using this as a test to see if Theatreworld should be campaigned over three miles next season.
Swan has few doubts about Theatreworld lasting the trip today and, indeed, said yesterday he thought the horse was crying out for it. He will need to be as Escartefigue is a top notch stayer who will provide a stern test. It's one that Theatreworld can pass though.
Swan can also score on Black Queen who can deservedly pick up the Dunne Insurance Handicap Hurdle after a consistent if luckless season. Second in the Ladbroke Hurdle and fourth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, Black Queen proved there she can act on a fast surface and that may prove decisive today.
Dunwoody hasn't long to wait for a winning opportunity as Heist has obvious claims to the opening Castlemartin Stud Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase. Seventh on his only start this year in the Irish Grand National, Heist should come on enough from that to deal with Swan's mount Indestructible.
