China Rock: Flop on Tuesday, but the star turn in Gold Cup on Saturday

China Rock was well beaten at Punchestown on Tuesday but he was the star turn on the closing day of the Festival meeting on Saturday.

Mouse Morris’ nine-year-old was a distant fourth in the two-mile Champion Chase at the track on Tuesday but stepped back up in trip to three miles and a furlong, he made no mistake in thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup.

Sent off a 20-1 outsider, China Rock was cruising under Barry Geraghty approaching the final fence as front-running favourite Quel Esprit and challenger Rubi Light began to toil.