Diamond King and Jack Kennedy turn on the style at Punchestown© Photo Healy Racing
We finished like we started at Punchestown with another winning favourite, Gordon Elliott's Diamond King taking the spoils convincingly in the Follow Us On Facebook & Twitter Rated Hurdle under Jack Kennedy.
Kennedy had to thread his way through between All Hell Let Loose and Jennies Jewel on the sweet-travelling Diamond King in the straight.
Once he got the required space it was soon a case of all over bar the shouting for the Diana Whateley-owned King's Theatre gelding, and the 6/5 shot went on to prevail by three and three parts of a length.
"He's a grand horse, and I think better ground will suit him better. That could be him until Cheltenham. Noble Endeavor won this last year, and the Martin Pipe race is the plan I have in mind for this horse," said Elliott.
"We'll have to keep Jack for that (Martin Pipe race at Cheltenham)."
(AM & EM)
