Master gets a bit of luck

Many held chances until late in the day in the November Festival Christmas Fair Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown. It eventually boiled down to Master Appeal and Cassells Rock though, and the former edged it by a head in the third event of the session.

The favourite, St Stephens Green fell at the second last flight here, taking down one of his fellow market-leaders, Crosshue Boy The two and a half miler suddenly became a lot more open.

Cassells Rock was certainly done no favours in that penultimate hurdle melee, but he got a second wind to have every chance on the run-in. However, he couldn't quite match Master Appeal who'd also seemed held in the straight before going into overdrive on the run-in.

Ambrose McCurtin rode Master Appeal for John Kiely who said: "At last he's lucky. He's been the most unlucky horse all year and I was worried the season would go without a win.

"We'll have to see where he goes now and if we can get another one in. He needs good ground so if the winter comes in quickly he'll go on his holidays.

"He put his jumping right today. It's not like him to do what he did in Listowel, he just stepped at it."

(GC & EM)