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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Carter collects in eventful beginners chase
Gary Carson
Carter collects in eventful beginners chase
Coach Carter and Davy Russell jump the last
© Photo Healy Racing
Davy Russell was back in the winner enclosure at Listowel this afternoon when Coach Carter made a winning start over fences in the Strings And Things Rated Novice Chase.
In an eventful race Russell had to sit tight when his mount clipped heels and stumbled with a circuit to run.
The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding inherited the lead when front-runner Poseidon unshipped Sean O'Keeffe six from home and made the best of his way home afterwards.
Stable-mate Gevrey tried to launch a challenge at the second last but a blunder at the final fence ended his chances and Coach Carter galloped on strongly to record a cosy 10-length win.
The 14/1 winner had won on his hurdling debut at Punchestown back in March but had been well held in a couple of rated contests subsequently.
"Obviously things fell our way when the favourite fell but he jumped well and Davy gave him a good ride. It was a nice race to win and a nice pot,” said Elliott.
"I thought we would be going back for a beginners' chase now so I don't know where we'll go with him. We'll try and find a little winners' race somewhere.
"I asked Jack (Kennedy) and he said Gevrey would have given him a race (only for a final fence blunder) but said he wouldn't have beaten the winner."
(Quotes by Tom Weekes)