Review: Punchestown Wednesday card

Sweeps Hill held Some Present at bay in Punchestown's Tote Sports Lounge Novice Hurdle, but connections won't have learned anything new about either top prospect.

The smart bumper performers had made successful timber debuts but neither wanted to give a lead to the other, resulting in a farcical pace for the first half of the contest.

Tony McCoy eventually began to inject a bit of pace with half a mile to travel and in a sprint to the line, his mount Sweeps Hill (evens) repelled the 4-5 favourite by three-quarters of a length.

Shinrock Paddy was another leading light in the National Hunt Flat sphere and he made a winning start to his jumping career in the Punchestown Event Centre Maiden Hurdle.

Paul Nolan's 1-2 favourite made most of the running in the hands of Alain Cawley and quickened well to stretch his rivals turning in.

Gallant Light and Rick threw down legitimate challenges, but Cawley didn't pick up his stick until the final 100 yards and Shinrock Paddy still proved half a length too good.

Major Finnegan claimed the notable scalp of odds-on favourite Jered in the Dobbins Panoramic Restaurant Beginners Chase.

The 8-11 market leader was expected to outclass his rivals on hurdling form and travelled well enough to move on to the heels of the front-running Major Finnegan at the third-last.

But Davy Russell still had something up his sleeve on the Liam Burke-trained 12-1 winner, who defied a near two-year spell on the sidelines to outbattle Jered, scoring by three-quarters of a length, with Lenabane third.

Golden Alou (100-30) broke his duck at the ninth time of asking under Lenny Flynn in the Thoroughbred Trail Weekend Maiden Hurdle, while Oliver Brady's 8-1 chance Takestan flew after the last to catch Stretch The Truth in the Punchestown Active Retirement Handicap Hurdle.