Grand Jesture and Jonathan Burke lead Sadler'sflaure over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Grand Jesture justified favouritism in the Weatherbys Ireland GSB Handicap Chase, scoring under Jonathan Burke for Henry De Bromhead and owners Ann and Alan Potts.
The six-year-old son of Gold Well proved a model of consistency last season and he rounded off his campaign by finishing a good second to Chartreaux in a competitive handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival.
Sent off the 3/1 favourite this afternoon he was settled in mid-division before improving to dispute after the third last.
He gained a marginal lead before the next and he kept on well under pressure on the run-in, going on to score by three and a quarter lengths. Sadler'sflaure (16/1) ran a fine race to finish second under Davy Russell for Jessica Harrington, while Foxrock also ran well to take third another length and a half back under Adrian Heskin for Ted Walsh at 5/1.
Henry De Bromhead said afterwards: "He has so much class this fella but it's trying to get him to produce it. I'm delighted with that on his first run back and Johnny gave him a super ride.
"He'll go for the Paddy Power now. We'll give it a whirl and see how he gets on.
"When he's short he's not amazing and he has no regard for his fences.
"He's funny and a real character. We had to reverse him into the ring today to get him in. He has his own way of doing things. If he stops at home we just have to turn and go back to the yard with him."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
