Star overcomes injuries to score Kentucky Star made a winning start in handicap company when scoring for 'Sneezy' Foster and Adrian Heskin at Punchestown this afternoon. The 16/1 shot was held up in the early stages of the 2m6f contest before taking closer order from the fourth last. He moved into contention turning for home and claimed long-time leader Samanntom on the run to the last. Heskin kept the French-bred going on the run-in and he asserted in the closing stages for a four-and-three-quarter length success over the 9/4 joint-favourite. The other joint-favourite Best Of Three finished fifth after failing to pick up in the straight. "He's a horse that's had a lot of problems," revealed Foster afterwards. "He's had ulcers and got a seriously bad cut at Fairyhouse. He was in the clinic for a month and stood in his box for nearly six months. "He stays well and he'll jump a fence." Samanntom had a rather unusual start as he came from a long way behind the field at the tapes and rounded his rivals to dispute at the first. (Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
