IN what was the closest finish of the five-day Punchestown Festival, Downpatrick-born, London-based property developer David Maxwell achieved a longheld ambition when landing last Friday’s 14-runner Irish Daily Star Champion Hunters’ Chase on his own Bob And Co.

The Paul Nicholls-trained French-bred gelding responded to the vocal urgings of his rider to get up and pip the longtime leader, and 9/4 favourite, Billaway, ridden by 13-time Irish champion amateur, Patrick Mullins, by a nose.