Treo Eile (fourth place) gives chase in the La Touche© Photo Healy Racing
The longest race of the week produced a cracking finish as Treo Eile rallied gamely to land the La Touche Cup at Punchestown.
There was drama three from home in the four-mile one-furlong banks race as 11/2 second favourite Mtada Supreme ran out.
It developed into a battle between 8/11 shot Cantlow and Treo Eile from the second last.
An untidy jump two out by Treo Eile gave the market leader the advantage but weigh-room veteran Barry Cash got a great response from his mount on the run-in.
The Shay Slevin-trained gelding just edged a titanic duel in the closing stages to deny the hotpot by a head at the line.
“Benny Walsh rode him the first day and said to make more use of him as he stays well. He was dead right,” said Slevin.
“I thought we were running for place-money. I'm delighted and couldn't believe it. I thought the ground was too quick as well but I was wrong.
“I worked with Barry in Aidan O'Brien's, it must be 25 years ago, and I was slagging him the other day saying 'you're getting too old Barry and you may give up'. You can't beat experience.
“You need experience out there as there is a lot of jumping and twisting and turning.
“JJ, my son, would have better staying with me today! It was him actually that schooled him as a young horse and said he'd be a banks horse. He was dead right.”
Cash said:- “That's the last time you'll see me here. I'm not retiring today but it's the last festival you'll see me at.
“He's tough out. He had a hard enough race here the last day but he jumps very quick.” First Lieutenant was retired after finishing third in the race. The Mouse Morrris-trained gelding was a Grade One winner over fences and hurdles.
He was an ever present in top company a few seasons ago finishing runner-up in the Lexis Chase three times and well as being second in the Ryanair and RSA Chases at Cheltenham.
