There was incredible drama in the last race of the day at Punchestown today. It all kicked off as the field was approaching the last, as Al Boum Photo & Finians Oscar veered right and missed the fence after Monalee had fallen. In the end, the Storyteller emerged from the chaos to land a crucial win for Gordon Elliott & Davy Russell.
Drama doesn't quite cover this - The Storyteller somehow comes out on top in the Grade 1 Growise Champion Novice Chase. Absolutely unbelievable... pic.twitter.com/Ga6BwfYRad
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 24, 2018
The race provoked a bewildered reaction online.
Has someone shouted to Paul Townend from the outside of the track? @mickfitzg: "He's just had an absolute moment." pic.twitter.com/qbsEBxwxmK
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 24, 2018
You couldn't write that at #Punchestown 🤢
— Mac McCulloch (@teddypicker17) April 24, 2018
Absolute carnage in the 18:40 at Punchestown, I’ve never seen anything like that🤷🏼♂️😂🐎
— Daithi White (@The_Dot_White) April 24, 2018
That is the craziest finish I have ever seen to a horse race, 6:40 punchestown get your eyes on it 😧
— Neill Byrne (@NeillB42) April 24, 2018
What on earth just happened at Punchestown?
— Tony Hodson (@tonyhodson1) April 24, 2018
Speaking to RTE after the race, Ruby Walsh felt it may have been a case that the jockey thought he had to go around the fence.
I think Paul Townend thinks he needs to bypass the last. I don't know why he thought that. I don't know what happened.
The win was huge for Elliot who saw his for the Irish Trainers' Championship take a hit early thanks to successful rides by Un De Sceaux and True Self for Willie Mullins.
