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Review punchestown 16th Oct

Thu 16th Oct 2014, 18:00

Utmost Zeal hits the front as they turn for homeUtmost Zeal hits the front as they turn for home
© Photo Healy Racing

Trainer Gordon Elliott and owner Gigginstown House Stud made it four wins in a row in the Star Best For Racing Coverage Chase at Punchestown as Don Cossack struck.

The 11-10 favourite was held up by Bryan Cooper, who just had to niggle him along for a few strides when Alderwood and Loosen My Load upped the pace on the home turn.

He was soon back in contention, though, and after Alderwood pecked at the second last he strode clear, beating Loosen My Load by five and a half lengths.

Elliott made it a double on the day, to go with his treble on Wednesday, when Utmost Zeal (4-11 favourite) scraped home under Nina Carberry in the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Launch Flat Race.< Alelchi Inois made it five out of five over fences with the minimum of fuss in the Buck House Novice Chase.

Ruby Walsh was happy to cut out the running on the 3-10 favourite, and he wasn't hard pressed to fend off August Hill by six lengths.< Little King Robin (4-6 favourite) extended her unbeaten run to four when giving jockey Mark Walsh a double in the Grabel Mares Hurdle.

Allowed an easy lead by her rivals early, she never saw another horse, coming home six and a half lengths to the good over Melbourne Lady < Princely Conn (1-2 favourite) ran out a reasonably comfortable winner of the Buy Your 2015 Annual Badge Maiden Hurdle under Walsh.

Tom Mullins' charge had Fill Your Hands for company approaching the last, but the latter jumped markedly left - as he had done for most of the race - so Princely Conn was able to run on strongly to a two-and-a-half length success.< Buster Dan Dan (3-1 joint-favourite) ran out a convincing winner of the November Meeting Christmas Fair Handicap Hurdle, while Conor O'Dwyer's Prosperity Square (14-1) just managed to hold off the late surge of Embracing Change to land the Ingoldsby (QR) Handicap Chase under Johnny King.