Martin doubles up with Gallant Oscar

Gallant Oscar stepped up on his placed effort at the Cheltenham Festival when delivering in Punchestown's valuable Grade B handicap chase over three miles and a furlong.

He had stayed on for third behind The Druids Nephew and Grand Jesture in the Grade Three Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase over the same trip at Prestbury Park.

In today's assignment, he travelled powerfully under Mark Walsh in fifth upon jumping the fourth last. He soon improved into second after clearing three out.

Walsh brought him to the outside approaching the penultimate fence where he closed right up on Archie Meade As the latter received a reminder, Gallant Oscar smoothly eased to the front and bounded away after popping the last.

The nicely backed 5/2 favourite, from 3/1 on opening show, put nine lengths on Archie Meade (16/1). Bless The Wings at 16/1 and 10/1 chance Ballycasey completed the places in third and fourth respectively.

Tony Martin said: "He did it super and jumped well. Mark was very good on him. He won last year in Naas on a little deeper ground and was very impressive and was unlucky in an Irish National.

"The ground was right and the trip was right, and I always thought there could be a day like this in him.

"I presume the ground will be harder in the next few weeks and I'm sure he'll be going out to the field. He'll probably go for races like the Troytown and the Thyestes next year."

Mark Walsh added: "He was going very easy the whole way. I was going to get there too soon but thankfully the two lads went round me and gave me a lead down to the second last. He won well now and he's a nice horse for those staying chases."

Grand Jesture was a notable non runner in this contest, worth 32,500 euro to the winner, due to the change in going.

The first leg of Tony Martin's double today was Heathfield in the second race.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee