Review punchestown 3rd May

< Big Zeb got the better of Sizing Europe to win an epic battle for the boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown.

Sizing Europe, five lengths ahead of his rival in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, was sent off the 11-8 favourite and jumped to the front at the fourth before making the best of his way home.

Barry Geraghty stalked him coming into the closing stages and there wasn't much between them at the last before Big Zeb (9-4) forged ahead to score by three-quarters of a length, even though the jockey lost his whip.

Trainer Colm Murphy went on to a big-race double when Quito De La Roque (7-2) stayed on stoutly to take the Grade One Growise Champion Novice Chase.

The heavily backed Quel Esprit fell in the back straight and Mr Thriller came down when in contention, leaving Quito De La Roque to dispose of his rivals comfortably under Davy Russell, winning by 14 lengths.

Owner JP McManus landed a double highlighted by Shot From The Hip who took the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade One) in impressive style in the hands of Tony McCoy.

The Edward O'Grady-trained 11-2 shot was coasting when he swept past long-time leader Far Away So Close approaching the last, and he had no trouble holding Hidden Universe by nine lengths.< Outlaw Pete (5-1) had earlier won a drama-packed Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase for McManus after surviving a scare when nearly brought down.

Enda Bolger's charge hit the front going to the last under JT McNamara and defied dual winner Wedger Pardy by 13 lengths after three prominent runners ran off the course in two separate incidents.< Johnny McGeeney lost momentum with a slow jump at the last flight in the '3' Handicap Hurdle and was quickly attacked by favourite Nearest The Pin but Paul Townend galvanized Willie Mullins' 10-1 shot to hold on by a neck.

Noel Meade's Texas Jack (14-1) flew late under Jason McKeown to take the Goffs Land Rover Bumper by two lengths.