Soldier Of Fortune Newcomer Rises To The Challenge At Punchestown

The well-bred Lisnagar Fortune (4g Soldier Of Fortune - Asta Belle, by Astarabad) lived up to high expectations on debut when staying on strongly to win the Mick The Tent bumper on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival.

A half-brother to Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle victor Lisnagar Oscar (Oscar), Denis Fitzgerald’s homebred was sent off joint-favourite under Patrick Mullins. The Willie Mullins-trained bay was held up in midfield and made smooth headway from three furlongs out, coming under further urgings approaching the two furlong marker. Chasing down the leader in the straight, he kept on strongly to lead 110 yards from home and went on to score by four lengths.

Tuesday’s bumper has been won by some talented horses in the past, including subsequent Grade 1 winners Cilaos Emery and Very Wood, and this year’s winning trainer was impressed by his charge. “It was a very good performance,” Mullins said. “He was as green as grass and it took him all day to learn how to gallop up the straight. Once Patrick got his fella going he got into gear and made up a lot of ground. He was only getting going as he hit the line, he's a half-brother to Lisnagar Oscar so he looks sure to stay.

“He looks like a horse for the future for Denis and the Fitzgerald family,” Mullins continued. “We'll have a word and see what they want to do but I'd imagine he'll go jumping in the autumn.”