Carberry ends lean spell – on the double

PAUL CARBERRY ended a lean spell, stretching back to a double at Gowran Park on March 20, when registering a double on Cottage Oak and What’s Up Gorden at Punchestown last night.

And trainer Noel Meade declared: “I’m delighted for Paul. He’s had a rough time for a while,” after Cottage Oak, unplaced in the 2008 Champion Bumper in Cheltenham before enduring injury problems, had made all to land the Visit punchestown.com Maiden Hurdle.

“This horse has had his problems but was a very exciting young horse. He came back from Cheltenham with damage to ligaments in his knee and it has been a battle ever since. He should probably have won the last day in the north – he lost ground at the start and was always flat to the boards over two miles.