Galvin cruises to Punchestown success

Galvin repeated last season's success in the Irish Daily Star – Best For Racing Coverage Chase with ease at Punchestown.

Having conceded 8lbs to take the Grade Three prize last season, Gordon Elliott’s crack staying chaser made light work of his four rivals giving away 12lbs.

Having stalked the decent pace set by Politesse, he jumped between the mare and stablemate Run Wild Fred at the third-last, before Davy Russell’s mount drew clear between the last two fences, cruising to a five-and-a-half-length success.

Top-class performers such as Kicking King, War Of Attrition and Don Cossack have won this three-mile event in recent times and having justified odds of 11-10 at the head of the market, the eight-year-old had his price clipped for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in which he finished fourth to A Plus Tard in March.

Elliott said: "Davy said he jumped like a buck from fence to fence. Fitness-wise, he is probably a little bit behind where he was last year and he’ll come on for it, but it’s a nice start. He’ll head now to Down Royal probably along with Conflated.

"He doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He keeps pulling it out every year and we are lucky to have him."