Champoleon wins as he likes in Punchestown Champoleon travelled supremely well in Punchestown's three mile maiden hurdle and put the race away with the minimum of fuss after the last. Paul Carberry was motionless on board the five-year-old gelding in tenth before the pair made significant headway into fifth at the second last. Champoleon eased into third on the home bend just behind Haddington Road and Davids Jewel who were both well off the bridle. Carberry could afford a look over his shoulder as his mount came to collar Haddington Road before the last. Once that hurdle was jumped the 3/1 favourite stretched away to win by four and a half lengths. Caledon Craic made good late progress from sixth in the run-in to come in second at 40/1 with 100/1 shot Nautical Nitwit taking third. "He had a couple of quick runs at the start of last season and sort of went backwards. Noel backed off him and he's come back to himself in the last month," said Paul Carberry. "I rode him a few bits of work recently and he's turned into a nice horse. He liked that ground. "He's going to be a nice chaser but will win a few hurdles during the summer. "Noel is on a beach somewhere in France having a well-deserved break." Additional reporting by Gary Carson
