Lets Go Champ winning under Rachael Blackmore © Photo Healy Racing
Strong-travelling Lets Go Champ exploited a lovely light weight in the Grade 3 HSS Hire Handicap Chase at Punchestown.
He ran the home bend in third just behind Jetoile and Authorized Art in this extended 2m4f contest worth €100,000.
He closed in third at the penultimate fence and was ridden by Rachael Blackmore to collar Authorized Art at the final fence.
From there, the 11/4 favourite ran on well to post a decisive two-and-a-half-length success from Must Be Obeyed (18/1) who got up for second from Authorized Art (25/1).
Henry de Bromhead said: “It’s brilliant for Roger (Brookhouse, owner). He’s a great supporter of ours and a great supporter of Punchestown.
“He lost a very good friend, Tom, only recently who came every year with him and he wants to dedicate that to him.
“He ran very well here last year and was a little bit unlucky.
“He probably struggled a bit on the ground in Limerick (last time) but he was very good today.
“He could be a Galway Plate horse but we’ll see what the handicapper does and what everybody wants to do.
“We’ll enjoy today, today is a big day.”
Blackmore added: "It was fantastic!
"He got into a great rhythm and jumped well.
"I hope Paul (Townend) and James Du Berlais are okay, they fell on the inside of me.
"He loved the nicer ground there and he's a progressive type, so hopefully that is him on the right path now.
"It is great to get it, yesterday was a frustrating day (pipped by a neck on Captain Guinness in the Grade 1 Champion Chase). I just have to remember he won the Champion Chase in Cheltenham."
All the jockeys who came down were reported to be up on their feet afterwards.
De Bromhead was earlier successful with Gorgeous Tom ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
