Zest pleases plenty in Punchestown opener Ladies Cup standing-dish Zest For Life, winner of the event in 2010, gave Tim Donworth his first winner in the saddle when taking the 2013 running of the Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Steeplechase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup at Punchestown. His Enda Bolger-trained stable companion, Near Perfection (5/2 into 7/4) saved the bookmakers plenty when departing at a water jump early but there'll have been plenty that backed Zest For Life too as he went off 'second in' at 4/1. Always on the pace, Zest For Life briefly looked like he might have to play second fiddle to the outsider, Ma Chara. However when that one was slow two out, Zest For Life quickly assumed command and it was bar a fall from before the last. He eventually stayed on well to beat Lord Hawkfield by seven and a half lengths with sixteen lengths back to the aforementioned Ma Chara. Bolger explained: "That's the jockey's first winner, he hasn't even ridden a point-to-point winner. "He's eighteen and he rides out for me in the mornings. He's from Limerick. "He's mum and dad breed a lot of flat horses. "I'm chuffed for him and also for Robert (Miller-Bakewell, the winning owner) who's had horses with me for 15 years. "I'm delighted with that – this horse might go to France now. He ran last year in a smaller race out there where he unseated his rider. "He'll probably go back now as he's got the expenses. "It looks like I'll have to start schooling Near Perfection over water! "He'll probably come back on Saturday (the Irish Field Chase)." (GC & EM)
