Kotkito Bello makes every yard for Hogan and Rothwell Kotkito Bello followed up a win over fences at Thurles last month when successfully adopting front-running tactics in the Donohue Marquees Novice Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown. The Philip Rothwell-trained grey gelding, available at 6/1 overnight and sent off the 7/2 joint favourite, made all under Calum Hogan and kept on strongly in the straight to score by a length and a half. County Final came home well to take the runner-up berth, with Captain Ryan Matt finding no extra in the closing stages a further 11 lengths away in third. Rothwell said, “I thought he’d step up for softer ground, and I felt today with 9st7lb on his back the ideal thing was to let him gallop and jump. “He has loads of experience and is a lovely little horse. He jumped well and did everything very professionally. “We can mix it as he has his chase rating and we’ll find novice handicaps. There is great prize money for them and it’s lovely to be able to come to these nice meetings. “The Barden family have been great supporters of the yard. Oliver has been so good to me for 20 years and having winners for them is very special.”
