Royal County stars despite drop in trip

ROYAL County Star, trained by Tony Martin and ridden with typical confidence by Davy Russell, landed the featured Enhance Marketing Chase at Punchestown last night.

The ten-year-old, better known for his exploits over staying trips, coped well with the two and a quarter miles, readily brushing aside the challenge of Holly Tree to triumph by two and a half lengths in a race which saw favourite Jayo trail in a well-beaten fifth after making a costly mistake.

Martin commented: “He’s been a bit of a problem horse. But that worked out great. He’s not a bad horse when things fall into place for him. A good horse on his day.