Surprise GAA win could be good Punchestown Festival omen for owner
Co Down is in celebratory mode after their footballers' shock win over Donegal on Sunday - and there could be more to celebrate for the Mourne County over the coming days.Conor Laverty's side stunned Jim McGuinness' men in Letterkenny as they dumped last year's All-Ireland runners-up out of the Ulster Championship at the quarter-final stage. Down will now face Armagh in a semi-final clash on Sunday.But before then, the county's red and black colours will be getting cheered on at the Punchestown Festival as The Mourne Rambler aims to add to his Cheltenham victory last month.Owned by Downpatrick-based property developer and construction firm owner Philip Polly, the Noel Meade-trained gelding sparked jubilant scenes at Prestbury Park after winning the Champion Bumper under six-time Irish flat champion jockey Colin Keane.The Mourne Rambler will now aim to complete the Cheltenham-Punchestown double when lining up in the Grade 1 Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race at 4.50pm on Wednesday. He will be partnered by Declan Lavery at the Co Kildare venue.The five-year-old is currently the 2/1 favourite (at the time of writing), with the Willie Mullins-trained Dromard, a winner at Gowran Park last month, next in the betting. He will be ridden by the trainer's son Patrick and is one of four runners declared for the champion trainer.Click here to sign up to our racing newsletter for the latest news and tips from the biggest meets.
