Coen seen to good effect on Fortunedefortunata Gordon Elliott brought up his fourth consecutive Listed Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Punchestown when Fortunedefortunata showed his deep reserves of stamina. The eight-year-old gelding was making his handicap debut off a light weight with Jake Coen claiming 3lb over this trip of three miles and three furlongs. He came from well back to arrive into contention two out and held a narrow lead from stablemate Will Do swinging the home bend. The front two separated themselves from the field on the lengthy run to the last and it looked like Fortunedefortunata had handed the race to his rival when he blundered through it. However, he showed impressive fortitude and stamina as he rallied for Coen and stayed on past Will Do in the closing stages to actually win going away by two and a-quarter lengths at 14/1. He led home a one-two-three for Elliott with Will Do (15/2) occupying the runner-up berth, some 13 lengths clear of Favori De Champdou (17/2). Each-way players also drew a dividend from fourth-placed Spanish Harlem (7/1). Assistant trainer Ian Amond said: “He’s a grand horse. The lads that own him (Breakaway's Syndicate) are all local, from Summerhill, so Gordon will be delighted with that as well. “He had a light weight on his back and likes that ground. He travelled away and jumped well, bar the last obviously. “It looked like he was after throwing it away at the last, but he did well to get back up after the mistake he made. “It’s great for the lads, they’ll get a good kick out of it. “It’s great for Jake as well. He’s probably been a bit slow to get going over jumps. He’s there every day in the yard, so it’s good for him to get a big win like that. Hopefully, there will be plenty more and things will pick up for him now.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
