Elliott doubles up with Zeal

The hotpot just got home in the bumper at Punchestown as Utmost Zeal narrowly held the late charge of Beau Et Sublime

The Gordon Elliott-trained Utmost Zeal was sent off 4/11 to give his trainer a double following the feature event success of Don Cossack in the same Gigginstown colours.

Nina Carberry tracked the leaders before sending her mount on turning for home in the two-miler.

Beau Et Sublime stayed on to press the favourite inside the final furlong, however, and the line just came too soon as he was denied by a head.

The winner had been very unlucky on his sole point-to-point start last February, having fallen at the last when well clear.

“I know he's won but I think he's a better horse than that,” said Elliott afterwards.

“It was a very messy race and Nina said it was very start-stop. He'll be better with a faster gallop.

“He'll probably go jumping now but he wouldn't want really heavy ground.”

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)