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Doyle chaser ‘100 per cent’ after Scottish National misfortune

Sean Doyle is eyeing Punchestown compensation for Crosshue Boy following his luckless run in the Scottish Grand National.

Following a couple of readying runs over hurdles, the Irish raider was well fancied for last Saturday’s Ayr marathon – but his race ended when he stumbled and fell after jumping the seventh fence.

Crosshue Boy has returned to County Wexford none the worse, however, and will bid to bounce back in the Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase on the final day of the Punchestown Festival.

Doyle said: “It was just one of those things, unfortunately. We got no run at all.

“He jumped the fence fine and then clipped heels with a horse on the inside. He came back home the next afternoon and he’s 100 per cent.

“The key to him is finding a suitable race on good ground. Everything was falling into place for him at Ayr, because the ground was right and a couple of the favourites didn’t run. After Dingo Dollar was taken out, we were getting a bit excited – but it wasn’t to be.

“We’ll brush ourselves down and move on. There’s a three-mile chase on the Saturday of Punchestown – and that’s where we’ll go next, all being well.”