Moran back in the winner's enclosure

Jockey Robbie Moran has endured a thoroughly frustrating spell in recent months and gained a long overdue winner at Punchestown today when steering the John Berry trained Cootamundra (14/1) to win the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle.

Moran produced the gelding to lead at the final flight, and despite jumping left at the obstacle, kept on well on the run-in to defeat Really Unique by three parts of a length.

Moran missed much of the early part of this season through injury and was in the unfortunate position to have been a final fence faller on clear leader Osirixamix, with the Hilly Way Chase at Cork at his mercy last December.

The win was Moran’s first since last April and he later represented the absent Berry, saying “things worked out for Cootamundra today, he got the gaps.

“Lads have been knocking him saying he doesn’t find a lot but he just has a great cruising pace, travels terrifically well and keeps going at that - he would lie up in a Champion Hurdle!