Katie battles off Ruby

Battlefront has been a good acquisition from Gigginstown House Stud for Helen Walsh and the Kill clan enjoyed a sweet success when the 10/1 chance made a lot of the running under Katie, jumping well, his fluent fencing enabling him to see off Clear Gold ridden by Ruby (bidding for a double after Citizen Vic in the opener) by two lengths in the Racing UK Handicap Chase at Punchestown.

The Willie Mullins trained Clear Gold (very to easy to back) could be deemed an unfortunate loser in his bid to bring up a brace for the Closutton outfit, as he was almost on the floor at the third last.

Ted Walsh was understandably a happy man afterwards, commenting: "Isn't he a grand horse for us to have? He was bought to go over the banks but now he has won two chases for us - at Limerick and this. We'll have a bit of fun with him and he might win another one.

"I told Katie to go out and enjoy herself and not to disappoint the horse if he wanted to go on. He jumped well, though we were probably lucky as Ruby was on the floor at the third last."