Jury Duty and Robbie Power© Photo Healy Racing
Robbie Power made it a Grade 2 Punchestown double when landing the Liam & Valerie Brennan Memorial Florida Pearl Novice Chase on Gordon Elliott's Jury Duty
Power had taken the Craddockstown thirty five minutes earlier on Jessica Harrington's Woodland Opera
This one meant a lot to Gold Cup and Grand National winning pilot Power, as one of his friends in the winning Sideways Syndicate isn't well at the minute.
Jury Duty's win from his Gordon Elliott stable companion, Shattered Love (really put it up to her rivals from the front) was eventually accomplished by a gusty three parts of a length.
Favourite Presenting Percy was taken out of his comfort zone trying to bridge the gap to the pace-setter and ended up twelve lengths back in third.
“That was obviously a bit special as Ciaran (Collins) one of the boys that owns the horse is very sick in hospital and they're not sure if he'll even get through the night,” said Elliott.
“Hopefully he' was able to listen to the race and it'll give him a bit of a lift.
“He went to school with Robert Power and was really good friends with him. It was a great day for him to win. It's rough for the boys and on his family.
“He's from Moynalvey and the boys have been with me almost from when I started training.
“They had a lot of bad ones and a few alright ones but this lad is probably the best we've had.
“To be honest I didn't care about the result once I won it but I was cheering for the winner.
“He missed a bit of time before the Cork race and we knew he was fitter today. That was his Gold Cup and if he never wins again it doesn't matter.
“He's not a bad horse and could be an Irish National horse.”
(GC & EM)
