Cowboy leads home O’Neill one-two

ON a day when the news broke that Tony McCoy is to take over as first jockey to Jonjo O’Neill, the Castletownroche-born trainer celebrated by saddling two Grade One winners at Punchestown with Rhinestone Cowboy and Cherub.

Rhinestone Cowboy, partnered with staggering confidence by J P Magnier, beat stable companion Iris's Gift in the Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers' Hurdle while Cherub took the Colm McEvoy Auctioneers' Champion four-year-old Hurdle.

Rhinestone Cowboy, despite some indifferent jumping, came from well off the pace to completely outpoint Iris's Gift in the stayers' race.