Minella Crooner just came out best in a thrilling renewal of the Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase at Punchestown.

The field was reduced to 12 runners with four non-runners mainly due to the soft ground, and just five completed the extended three miles and 17 fences in a tough stamina test.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Minella Crooner and Better Times Ahead fought out a tremendous battle from before the last with the former just getting the verdict by a head under Sam Ewing. Gold Bullion was a further 13 lengths back in third.

Elliott said, "He's a tough horse who came out of a good home in John Nallen's. The race suited and he seemed to get his own way.

"He dug in well on the run-in and Sam was very good on him. He dropped his whip so thank God he won. He's a very good rider."

Ewing said, “He was very happy in his race today. I travelled fairly well everywhere. I made a little bit of a mess of the last but he stuck his head down and galloped to the line.

“At least I won't get done for the stick anyway! Luckily he stuck his head down for me where it mattered.”

He also paid tribute to newly crowned champion jockey Jack Kennedy adding: “Jack is very good to me, day in, day out. He even lets me live with him."