Minella Indo impresses on Punchestown return

In the other Grade Three on the card, the Willie Mullins-trained Hercule Du Seuil completed a fabulous five-timer over fences

BACK WITH A BANG: Minella Indo wins the Grade Three Irish Daily Star Chase at Punchestown in the hands of Rachael Blackmore. Picture: Healy Racing

Winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2021 and runner-up in 2022, Minella Indo made a successful seasonal debut when landing the Grade Three Irish Daily Star Chase at Punchestown.

The 10-year-old made virtually all the running under Rachael Blackmore, jumping fluently, and stayed on to beat Hurricane Georgie, the outsider of Gordon Elliott’s three runners, by a length and three-quarters, with a 13-length gap back to Delta Work in third.