Cheaply bought Punitive lands Porterstown prize

The cheaply-bought Punitive led home a 1, 2 for Gordon Elliott in the stamina sapping Bar One Racing Porterstown Handicap Chase (Grade B).

Second at Cheltenham on his penultimate start, a place ahead of opening race winner Malina Girl he since unseated early in the Troytown at Navan last weekend.

A three-time winner when owned by Gigginstown House Stud, he was bought by current connections for just 4,000 pounds at Goffs in September.

Available at 16/1 in early shows for this three mile five furlong contest, the son of Shantou came in for plenty of market support, going off a 9/2 chance in the colours of Pioneer Racing.

Settled in mid-division by Jordan Gainford, he still had plenty to do in tenth when pushed along from the third last.

He made rapid headway from the next and hit the front before the final fence, keeping on well from there to score by two-and-a-half lengths.

Sent off the 4/1 favourite, Fakiera had to settle for second under Jack Kennedy, while Western Zara (11/2) was another three-and-a-half lengths back in third.

"Maybe it was for luck that he went early in the Troytown. The conditions suited him and he likes the trip - it was a good performance," Elliott said.

"He'll probably head to Gowran Park now for the Thyestes. It looks the race to go for on soft ground.

"The second ran well also."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee