SAM Ewing’s efforts to return from injury in time for the Punchestown Festival reaped dividends when he lifted the Peter Fahey-trained Avalo home in the two-mile FRS Fencing Handicap Hurdle.

This was only Ewing’s fifth ride in Ireland since early March, having missed mounts at the Cheltenham Festival with a setback, but he was at his strongest in getting the 14/1 in front of Jonjo and A.J. O’Neill’s Pioneer Pete (11/2) by a short-head. We hadn’t seen the winning seven-year-old since tailing off at Cheltenham in November, so this was a smart training performance from the Monasterevin yard.

“Our lad has been known as a weak finisher and a bridle horse but he dug deep today,” said Fahey.

“He has been running great races. On his second run at Wexford last year, he travelled so well around there with Jake Coen and I was keen to drop him back to two miles and get in here [having been racing over two and a half miles primarily].

“Seamus Perry and Brian Larkin bought into him [alongside owner Bernadette Leigh] and it’s worked out great for them. He’ll tip away for a couple more handicaps and will end up being a nice chaser.”

Largy won’t lie down

Gavin Cromwell’s winners of bumpers at the Punchestown Festival have quite a history of turning into quality performers over obstacles, and he could have a decent future in store with Largy Star after his win in the concluding Stables Restaurant Naas Bumper.

Over two miles and three furlongs in this 21-runner affair, stamina was a key factor in deciding the outcome. It looked for all the world that Harry Swan had arrived with a winning challenge on Premier Division, sent off 11/2 and trading as short as 1/100 on the Betfair Exchange in-running.

However, Declan Lavery conjured up a spirited second-wind out of owner Stephen O’Connor’s 9/2 chance (well backed from 16/1 in the morning) and had the edge by a length and a quarter at the line. The pair pulled 18 lengths clear of the remainder.

Cromwell said: “He’s some horse to stay, is very tough and the bit of nicer ground helped. He just didn’t operate on the heavy ground at Naas, he found it tough work [when beaten 24 lengths in second behind Love Sign d’Aunou].

“He didn’t jump well the last day in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle over Easter [when third]. He’ll have to smarten up with that but, if he can do that, he’s a nice horse.”

Earlier races were covered in last week’s edition