Irish Pointers Grade 1 winners @ 18/1 & 14/1

Congratulations to Harry Derham and his team following Le Frimeur's victory in the Grade 1 three miles novice hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. The Gemix gelding was providing Paul Nicholls' nephew with his first winner at the highest level having stayed on strongly to beat the progressive Zanoosh by six and a half lengths. A point winner for Pat Doyle, the five year old was making it three out of three over timber having suffered a minor setback shortly after his Rules debut win at Chepstow in November. Derham indicated afterwards that the Simon Munir & Isaac Souede owned winner will go over fences next term. He is a most exciting prospect who relished the step up to three miles. 

Le Frimeur (18/1) is featured in Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers section in One Jump Ahead and so, too, is With Nolimit (14/1) who won the Grade 1 championship bumper shortly afterwards. A five year old by Bande, he won his point for Jonathan Fogarty before being sold for £250,000 in April last year. Successful in a bumper at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day, the Gigginstown House Stud owned runner narrowly missed out in a Grade 2 event at the DRF at Leopardstown before finishing ninth in the Cheltenham Festival bumper. Young Josh Halford was a late replacement and he did a fine job steering Gordon Elliott's charge to a length and three quarters winner. 

Switching codes, Infraad (4/5) provided the Top 40 Prospects in Ahead on The Flat with another success when outclassing his five opponents in the ten furlongs novice stakes. Like many of his stablemates, William Haggas' colt needed his reappearance at Nottingham earlier this month and took a good step forward here. An enthusiastic type, he was sent to the front from the outset by Tom Marquand and never saw another rival pulling clear in the homestraight to win by six and a half lengths. Qualified for handicaps now, he will have no trouble staying a mile and a half. The King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot is a possibility but his connections may elect to keep the son of Ghaiyyath away from the major Festivals at present. He is a promising type though who stays well.