Cheltenham hero set for Punchestown
Croco Bay will head to the Punchestown Festival following his shock victory in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham.
The Lady Jane Grosvenor-owned 12-year-old was considered a 66/1 shot to win the two-mile handicap chase at Prestbury Park, but he defied the odds and led from the front thanks to the bold work of jockey Kielan Woods. That was Croco Bay’s first run since last July, while it was also his fourth appearance in the Grand Annual – with his previous best showing having come in 2015 when he finished third. Trainer Ben Case has now confirmed that the gelding’s next port of call will be the Punchestown Festival at the end of April, as long as he feels no ill effects from his Cheltenham exploits. ‘He will go to Punchestown and run in the two-mile handicap over there.Subject to him being OK, that is where we plan to take him,’ Case was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. ‘He came out of the race really well. ‘ Croco Bay has enjoyed limited success at Punchestown in the past, claiming a fourth-place finish in the Guinness Handicap Chase three years ago.
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