Zest lands gamble in Punchestown opener Zest For Life landed a nice touch in the opening event of the Punchestown Festival when collecting in the Ladies Perpetual Cup for cross-country king Enda Bolger. The Dermot Cox-owned gelding was backed from 8/1 into 9/2 on course and duly collected for his supporters. Nina Carberry had her mount to the fore throughout and it developed into a battle turning for home between herself and Katie Walsh on Wedger Pardy. Wedger Pardy, seeking a hat-trick in the event, had to give best in the closing stages as Zest For Life found more for a length-and-a-quarter victory. "That was great. It's great to get a winner for this man," said Bolger afterwards as he greeted the winner along with Cox. "We set out to make him into a cross country horse but everytime we brought him here he got loose or did something silly. "Miss Carberry came to the fore again. He loves this ground and could come back here on Saturday. "The lads say the ground on the cross country is lovely. We were a bit worried about it for L'Ami and Garde Champetre. We'll see now what ones run on Thursday." The winner brought Carberry within two of Patrick Mullins in the race for the amateur title. Jamie Codd was taken to Naas Hospital with a suspected collapsed lung following his fall from Not To Pushed. Tom Addis was unseated from from Chance Your Arm in the contest. He was knocked out for a few minutes but was later reported okay. Peter Flood was taken to Naas Hosptial for x-rays on his left wrist following his fall from Paddys Star.
