Front-running Buster is best

Buster Dan Dan made it two in a row for front-runners when running out a convincing winner of the November Meeting Christmas Fair Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown.

Trainer/jockey Mikey O'Connor had his mount to the fore throughout and he kicked on at the back of the second last to put daylight between himself and his rivals.

The well backed gelding (6/1 this morning into 3/1 joint-favourite) blundered through the last but had plenty in the tank as he went on to record a seven-and-a-half length success.

Top Cat Henry who had been close up for most of the race, finished second with the other market leader Top Spin back in third.

The winner could only finish third when also well backed at Limerick just four days ago but made no mistake this time.

"I thought he'd get a one or two pounds for being placed at Limerick and decided to take our chance off a mark of 106,” said O'Connor.

“He's only 15.3 hands and would not be up to carrying big weights so we may run him in a better race now as long as the ground remains good.

"Tom Busteed does a lot of work with this horse and the owner's (Noel O'Sullivan) son Eoin works for Tom and rides him out quite a bit."

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)