Vital Island rolls back the years with Cross Country win Vital Island proved his advancing years to be no barrier when battling on in determined fashion to beat a pair of much higher rated rivals to win the opening Howden Cross Country Chase at Punchestown. A former winner of both the Ladies Cup and La Touche over the banks here, the Richie O'Keeffe trained veteran confirmed himself as one of the all-time greats around this unique course with a third win at the festival. In front after the third last, the Barry Stone partnered 13-year-old looked to be in trouble as both French Dynamite and Conflated loomed large on the run to the penultimate fence. The latter had no more to offer approaching the last but little separated Vital Island and French Dynamite at that point. However, the older horse found plenty for his rider, keeping on strongly for a famous victory. The win of Vital Island capped a fine season for both trainer and jockey. O'Keeffe had saddled the first two home in the Ladies Cup on Tuesday, while Stone tasted Cheltenham success at the first time of asking in March. “He thinks he’s at home when he’s here!” said O’Keeffe. “He lit up coming back here today for the second day. He ran a good race on Thursday but just made a few mistakes. Today he had a clear round and he knew where he was going. “We’re talking about going to France for one of the big cross country races there, it’s in about three weeks time. “We went to Craon two years ago but things didn’t happen, he pulled up a shoe crossing the road, five from home, and he pulled him up. “That was his first trip away and hopefully this time we’ll get it right.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
