Review punchestown 28th Apr

< China Rock made his second appearance at this year's Punchestown Festival a winning one as he sprang a 20-1 surprise in the thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup.

Fourth in Tuesday's Champion Chase, the Mouse Morris-trained nine-year-old was always going well behind market leaders Quel Esprit and Rubi Light before taking it up before the last.

His move was tracked by Follow The Plan but the outsider had much more in the tank and pulled clear for a five-length success under Barry Geraghty.

The return of blinkers worked the oracle for Hisaabaat in the AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle, the second Grade One on the card.

Dermot Weld's charge was a 4-1 shot to go one better than his Triumph Hurdle second and headed the chasing pack as the trailblazing Unknown Rebel came back to the field turning for home.

Andrew Lynch sent him to the front at the last and that is where he stayed, although he had to fend off challenges from Ut De Sivola and Wingtips for his half-length victory. Favourite Balder Succes unseated Robert Thornton at the first.

After failing to complete in the La Touche Gold Cup on Thursday, Outlaw Pete (9-1) bounced back in the Irish Field Chase as Josh Halley's mount prevailed by half a length from Arabella Boy < Foildubh gamely landed the Guinness Handicap Chase from Carrigmartin A mistake at the last allowed the eventual runner-up back into the race, but Paul Carberry quickly got the 9-2 chance going again and the pair got up with half a length to spare.

Carberry completed a double in the ITBA Fillies Scheme EBF Mares Hurdle with a beautifully-timed ride on Mae's Choice (33-1), who reeled in Gorgeous Sixty in the dying strides for a three-quarter-length verdict.

The customary Willie Mullins winner came in the Setantabet.com Handicap Hurdle courtesy of Drive Time (10-1), who overcame stablemate Marito by three-quarters of a length in an exciting finish to the Festival.