Bill Baxter makes it a magnificent seven for visitors Bill Baxter continued a fine week for the British raiding party when giving the visitors their seventh winner of the festival in the Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (Listed Race) at Punchestown. Always prominent under Harry Bannister, the grey charted a wide course before sweeping through to head long time leader Beachcomber entering the straight. Asserting on the run to two out, the 12/1 chance kept on well to land the spoils for Bannister and trainer Warren Greatrex. With the John Shinnick ridden Big Debates pulled up before the penultimate fence, that result saw Tiernan Power Roche crowned champion conditional jockey in Ireland this season. Harry Bannister, rider of Bill Baxter, said: "It's the sort of stuff you dream of(riding a Punchestown winner). I just feel very lucky to have got the ride on him today and yeah, it panned out brilliantly. "He's a fantastic jumper and I was basically a passenger all the way you know. Warren(Greatrex-trainer) was keen to go wide and he seemed to enjoy being in his own comfort zone and his own rhythm. It panned out beautifully for me as I said. Very lucky. "We came over this morning and back at 7pm tonight. It's another day but it's got that extra special tinge to it being Punchestown." “We’ve always been keen to come here if we have the right sort of horse,” said Warren Greatrex. “This horse has just been a star for us. He won the Topham two years ago and has found it hard since then, but he was on a dangerous mark today. “I was a bit worried about the ground but Harry’s given him a great ride. “We had a runner in the first chase and James (Bowen) came in and said ‘if I had been wider I would have had a right chance’. “He came over on Tuesday and he’s a horse that loves going on a trip, like I do. He’s thrived since he’s been here. He was squealing in the morning. “He almost ups his game when he goes away and we knew we had him in good shape. “I was a bit worried about the ground, he does like soft ground, but as I said he was on a dangerous mark and he’s gone and done it so it’s brilliant. “I’m all for having a go and it’s important that we all have a go if we have the right sort of horse. It pays off every now and then. It’s what it’s all about, competition is good.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
