Gorgeous Tom caps a good two days for connections at Punchestown Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe recorded a double for the second consecutive day at Punchestown highlighted by the Grade 3 victory of Gorgeous Tom in the €55,000 Matchbook Betting Exchange Chase. The 4/6 favourite cut out most of the running against just three rivals in this 2m7f event and shook off the challenge of Croke Park after three out. The Champs Elysees gelding stretched well clear before the last and kept on strongly under O’Keeffe to score by a facile 22 lengths. Croke Park took the runner-up spot with Apple’s Of Bresil, who made a mistake at the last, a further two lengths back in third. The 40/1 outsider Smallcraftwarning was in rear when falling at the third. De Bromhead said, “He was brilliant and Darragh was brilliant on him. We felt it would be good to try one of these condition races after running in those big handicaps and it was lovely he went and did it. He loves that ground.” On future plans he added, “We'll see, we've a few ideas. There's the Coral Gold Cup (at Newbury), which he was fourth in last year after kind of missing the start and being on the backfoot, or I think we should maybe think about the Savills or something like that as he was so good there.” De Bromhead and O’Keeffe were also on the mark earlier with evens favourite The Dotski in the mares handicap hurdle. Quotes by John O'Riordan
