Banbridge gives O'Brien his double

Banbridge didn't have the smoothest passage in division two of the maiden hurdle in Punchestown but showed off his engine as he supplemented a recent bumper victory.

He made progress to close on the inner with three furlongs to race but was checked in his run. JJ Slevin then brought him around the two leaders to unleash his challenge before the last.

The 2/1 favourite raced past John Cannon approaching that flight and ran on strongly to post a six and a half lengths success.

Runner-up John Cannon was a 7/2 chance and finished three lengths ahead of Gorgeous Suspect (20/1).

Trainer Joseph O'Brien also took the first division of this race via Persia

Slevin said: “He’s a nice horse. We were a little bit worried about the ground coming here but thankfully he coped with it.

“He’s won his bumper well and has won well again today. The point-to-point experience helped him and he got a very good grounding up the north.

“Hopefully he might win a novice over the summer and maybe go chasing next year.”

Banbridge won a bumper in Killarney on 10th May.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee