Punchestown Results Sat, 26th Apr, 2008

Cox´s Cash & Carry Champion Hunters S´ch of €40,000.00 5-y-o plus 3m. 1f.

1st - €26,040.00, 2nd - €8,000.00, 3rd - €4,000.00, 4th - €1,600.00 25 Ran
Agus A Vic broke a blood vessel when disappointing at Cheltenham but put that run firmly behind him here. The gelding is a capable sort at his best and winning trainer Pat Martin later reported "we put him on a product called BleedFree since Cheltenham and it seems to have worked. The ground was gluey at Cheltenham and maybe that is the reason for him bursting, something he had never done before. He is a lovely horse." The winner should take plenty of beating in hunter chases again next year and should figure at Cheltenham is at his best.

Alert The Earth was also pulled up at Cheltenham but reproduced his best form here. An impressive winner at Downpatrick in February, he can develop into a decent hunter chaser next season. He was not helped when hampered by Royal Blood, who moved onto the rails, before the straight.

Former smart handicap chaser Jaquouille has done well since reverting to hunter chases and ran a sound race in third while French Thyne lacked another gear but ran well enough.

Christy Beamish was badly hampered before the straight and ran well enough, in the circumstances, to take fifth while Moscow Maui disappointed further back.

Southwestern was in front when falling two out, much to the annoyance of his visibly upset rider. However, he was being reeled in by the pack when exiting, and may not have won in any event.

Non-Runner was the reserve.