Children from the local Ballymore Eustace Football Club with jockeys at Punchestown© Photo Healy Racing
The climax to the two mile handicap hurdle at Punchestown saw the Gigginstown pair Beef To The Heels and Maxim Gorky fight out the spoils, and it was the former who prevailed with Jane Mangan in the saddle.
Maxim Gorky was the eyecatcher as he cut throught the field into contention coming to the last. Favourite backers must have been confident as the 9/4 favourite partnered by Davy Russell moved past the leader Wrekin Rock
However, Beef To The Heels also had a say at the last and he got away from it quicker than Maxim Gorky and supplemented his Down Royal winnings by keeping on well under Mangan to win by two and a quarter lengths at 4/1.
Successful trainer Gordon Elliott is at Cheltenham’s three-day meeting and said: "Jane gave him a great ride. She was top class.
"I'm not really sure what's next, but its great to get another winner. He's a tough, honest horse.
"We we were lucky we weren't brought down when Saludos came down."
This winner gave amateur Jane Mangan the 15th of her career.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
