Double for Townend as Klepht impresses

After going close in bumpers and point-to-points Klepht finally got off the mark as he took the Casey Brothers supporting their local track beginners chase, completing a double on the card for Paul Townend.

The Tom Mullins trained gelding comes from a good family that includes top class performers Celestial Gold and Fiveforthree.

The 7yo son of Great Palm tracked the leaders early on and was fourth at the halfway stage.

He made good headway to lead at the second last and kept on well from before the last to score by an impressive five and a half lengths.

The Charlie Swan trained Cloone Springs finished back in second under Robbie Power for Charlie Swan at 16/1 while the 11/10 favourite Thouva could only manage third a further half a length back.

Speaking on the phone Tom Mullins, who is in Leopardstown, said afterwards: "I’m thrilled because he is an honest horse and he never let us down, he was just unlucky in bumpers.

"It was great to have the point-to-point experience.

"He is very big, hurdles would have only got in his way at his age. He likes good ground and that was as short a trip as he would want."

Mark O'Hare was brought to hospital after the race with a suspected lung injury. He was aboard Moss Green who fell at the last.