Four out of seven for Meath trainers at Punchestown

Gordon Elliott was on the double at Punchestown today, while there were also winners for Dermot McLoughlin and Gavin Cromwell at the Kildare track.

Elliott's opening winner came in the Maiden Hurdle when 16/5 chance Pied Piper just got the better of the 4/9 favourite Vauban.

Having tracked the leaders, Davy Russell, who picked up the ride after Jack Kennedy hurt his shoulder when riding out earlier in the day, let his mount stride on at the end of the back straight.

It was all to play for racing to the final flight where Pied Piper held a narrow advantage where he was more fluent than Willie Mullins' Vauban and scored by half a length.

"He’s a nice horse and I think there is an awful amount of improvement in him. I couldn’t see him winning today and he hasn’t even been away from home," said Elliott.

"He jumped well and probably travelled a bit too well early. He loved the ground and is one to look forward to. He’s a big baby.”

The double was completed in the final race bumper where the 4/6 favourite Harmonya Maker coasted to victory with Jamie Codd on board.

The daughter of Saddler Maker tracked the leaders before hitting the front five furlongs out where second favourite Carrigmoorna Queen tried to go with her but had no answer in the straight as the winner effortlessly went clear to score by a dozen lengths.

“She’s a nice mare and one for the future. She might be one for Leopardstown or Fairyhouse, we have those options and could be one to run in a Graded hurdle and then put away for next year," said the trainer.

“I’d say she’s improved a lot from her first run, she was more professional today. I’d say she’ll go on any ground.”

Lord Lariat defied the heavy ground at Punchestown to win the Handicap Chase for Grand National winning trainer Dermot McLoughlin from Ratoath.

The six-year-old handled conditions well to score by seven lengths as jockey Paddy O’Hanlon let his mount stride on in front and he got some good leaps out of him on the way around.

When his closest pursuer Wingin A Prayer departed two out it left the winner with a handy advantage and he saw his race out well with Ragnar Lodbrok (10/3) taking second in the end.

It was Lord Lariat’s fifth career success and his second since joining McLoughlin's yard earlier in the year.

“He surprised me as I was a bit anxious carrying top weight on that ground," said McLoughlin.

“He’s won on proper good ground. It’s probably looser than we thought and he kept galloping. He’s improving and maybe he’s a bit stronger now to handle that ground.”

Cromwell's Darver Star looked a happier horse back over the smaller obstacles in the Tote Pays You More On Tote.ie Hurdle with Dunshaughlin jockey Keith Donoghue on board.

The 2020 Champion Hurdle third cruised past disappointing 2/5 favourite Cilaos Emery after the second last and was soon well clear. He passed the post 20 lengths clear of Home By The Lee

It was Darver Star's sixth win over flights in contrast to just one win over fences. and trainer Cromwell was pleased with the performance.

"He just grew in confidence as the race developed. The further he went the better his jumping got," said Cromwell.

"The ability was always there and his work was great at home. Maybe we shouldn’t have stayed chasing as long as we did.

"I put blinkers on him and schooled him because we had him in the Paddy Power and he jumped brilliant. Then a horse fell in front of him and he got mowed out of it. Thankfully Keith had the sense to pull him up.

"The Galmoy Hurdle might be a possibility and if not the Boyne Hurdle. I’m delighted for the boys as it’s been a frustrating 18 months," concluded Cromwell.