Cross Appeal too good for well-touted rivals

Cross Appeal upstaged some well-known names in the Christmas Parties at Punchestown Beginners Chase under Davy Condon (standing in for Paul Carberry following his fall from Mount Benbulben at Galway on Saturday).

Following the pace-setting Imperial Shabra proved a good tactic on the part of Condon. He went on aboard Cross Appeal from two out and the chasing pack, who were floundering for a while at that stage, were never going to get there.

Though not surprisingly tiring in the latter stages, the Noel Meade-trained Cross Appeal gamely kept going and there was never any danger of the odds-on shot Stonemaster getting to him. The margin between the pair at the line was three and three parts of a length. Carrigeen Lechuga was making a pleasing racecourse bow when taking a tumble at the last.

Winning rider Davy Condon said: "That is very very hard ground to race on or to jump out of. The fences are fine but when you're going a foot deep into the ground it's hard to get over them.

"Noel did well to win with this lad as a three-year-old as it's only now that he is strengthening up. He stayed galloping there and he'll improve again from today I'd hope.

"He'll win a nice race in time." (EM)