Taglietelle (near side) heads Orgilgo Bay at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott, successful with Lord Scoundrel in the opener, completed a quick double at Punchestown when Taglietelle belied his position as the outsider of four by taking the Follow Us On Twitter And Facebook Rated Hurdle. Orgilgo Bay set a strong pace but the distress signals were out on the odds-on favourite in the straight, and Paul Carberry got Taglietelle to the front at the last.
The 11/2 chance stayed on really well on the run-in to score by five and a half lengths, with Art Of Payroll keeping on to take the runner-up berth.
Elliott said, “I thought his last run at Perth was his best. He was only beaten half a length by Thomas Edison at the Curragh but lost his way a bit after that.
“He could be a horse to go for the Greatwood Hurdle with a set of blinkers on him. He looked beaten four out today and the blinkers might help him to travel better.”
(GC & AM)