11 February 2011 Report: Brampton Hunter Chase - Huntingdon
by Carolyn Tanner
Cork All Star's easy Huntingdon success under Jack Quinlan meant he gained what for some would be a coveted qualification for Cheltenham, but he will not be returning to the scene of his greatest triumph, the 2007 Weatherbys' Champion Bumper.
The target, said his trainer, Jack's mother Jo, is the Champion Hunters' Chase at the Punchestown Festival, prior to which he may take in Stratford's Credit Call Cup in March.
Jo was maintaining her 100% record in Hunter Chases, having saddled her only previous runner Belavard to score on this track last season. "We were very lucky," she laughed, "because the clear leader fell at the last."
This was Cork All Star's initial attempt over regulation fences, and apart from ballooning the first two he jumped like an old hand, although "He found it hard work in the ground," Jack reported.
The Punchestown run will tie in with owner Cillian Ryan's Open Day at his Swordlestown Stud, where Cork All Star will be on parade. "We hope he'll be the star turn," smiled Jo.
It was at the Open Day last year that Jack and his father Noel spotted Cork All Star, who had been retired from racing with knee trouble, in the field. Cillian had sent the Quinlans The Railway Man as a schoolmaster for Jack last season, but he only stood one race, albeit a winning one, so father and son were on the lookout for a replacement. "What's that?" they inquired of the then eight-year-old, and so Cork All Star moved to Newmarket in September.
The prize money on offer was little more than £600 to the winner, but Jo had no complaints. "Point-to-Point people don't do it for the money," she opined. "We're in it to give Jack an education, and it's working for us."
