VITAL Island (3/1) failed to justify favouritism in the first banks race of the week but it turns out it was something of a warm up run as he went one better in the Mongey Communications La Touche Cup giving his rider Benny Walsh the full set of banks wins at the Punchestown Festival.

Owned and trained by Wexford native Richard O’Keeffe, the 11-year-old travelled smoothly and jumped nimbly around the various jumps, drops and banks (36 in all) and was clearly going well alongside favourite Stealthy Tom as the pair challenged the long-time leader Michael’s Pick as they began their final turn for home.

He kicked clear on the turn to open up a comfortable advantage before appearing to idle in front, and for a brief second it looked like Stealthy Tom could run him down, before he moved on again once joined.

“He was giving away a stone and a half to the winner here on Tuesday,” the winning rider said. “He probably wasn’t as slick on Tuesday as he was here and I’d say that run did him the world of good.

“He galloped all the way to the line and the minute he heard the other lad coming, he went on again.

“That is the full set (of banks wins now), but this is the one I really wanted. It means everything, even with my girls at home, we’d be schooling over the banks - it’s just brilliant.”

Broomfield

For the second year in a row the Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle went to Philip Dempsey and Raymond Fitzgerald, this time with Broomfield Bijou (6/1), who came through after the last to first conquer Feu De Brasil and then hold off the late lunge of By Your Side, with just a nose separating the pair at the line.

Broomfield Bijou was building upon a comfortable win at Ballinrobe and has progressive profile now.

“She is lovely bred mare, by Walk In The Park, and Anibale Fly is well up somewhere in her pedigree,” Dempsey said. “She showed a good attitude there and it wasn’t easy on her first run in a handicap.

“She got lost a bit turning in but once Luke got her going she picked up well. She’ll stay further. The nice ground is what she wants, I wouldn’t say she likes heavy ground.”

Belle

For the second year in a row, the Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Handicap Chase featured very few completions and the winner Indie Belle can only be described as extremely fortunate, as she was on hand to take advantage of independent falls of Queen Jane and Bonnie Kellie at the last.

In fairness to Robert Widger’s mare, she had her own bit of bad luck earlier in the season when she made a terrible mistake from a winning position at the last hurdle at Navan. She has now won her last three chases, two of them being her most recent runs and connections will likely look to exploit an attractive hurdle rating when the time is right.

She prefers soft ground, according to Widger, so may not be seen until the autumn/winter but she has done her job here - scoring for owners Nigel O’Sullivan and Widger’s wife Paula.