Good luck for a change for Andy Lynch and Zabana

Dunsany man Andrew Lynch was rewarded at Punchestown yesterday when stable star Zabana, which had an unfortuitous trip to last month's Cheltenham Festival, gained compensation when winning the Grade 1 Growise Champion Novice Chase for owner Chris Jones.

The seven-year-old whipped round at the start and unseated Davy Russell when well-fancied for the JLT Novices' Chase at Cheltenham and Lynch was delighted with this victory.

'Cheltenham was going to be his day and it didn't work out. But it's great to come here and do that,' said Lynch. 

'He was good today. My heart sank when he over-jumped the first, but apart from a mistake down the back, his jumping was fine otherwise.

'After Cheltenham he went off everything and I didn't know if I'd get him back. But he'd been much better in the last three weeks and he wants this good ground.

'We'll let him off for the summer now and make a man of him. He's only seven and we could perhaps start him in the John Durkan Chase next season.'

Davy Russell added: 'There was plenty of hassle with the loose horse and everything. They were going quick enough and I wanted to maybe go a bit slower. When I let him roll along, he jumped great.

'Andy and all the lads always had faith in him and that gave me confidence. We went to Cheltenham thinking he was going to run a big race and this win today justifies that. He is trained by a very good man and owned by an even better one. He loved the ground and jumped great on it.'