Racing:Dunguib maintained his unbeaten record over timber in effortless style when winning the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse. Philip Fenton's pride and joy landed last season's Cheltenham bumper by a wide margin and looks like being every inch as good over timber.
Having had two easy tasks to date, his rivals in this Grade One contest were supposed to throw down a much sterner challenge.
But the 30-100 favourite never looked in any danger whatsoever as Brian O’Connell steered the six-year-old to a seven-length success over Some Present.
Fenton said: “I suppose you’d have to say you were very impressed. He seemed to be in control a long way out and you’d have to be impressed with his jumping — he was excellent.
“The gallop was nice and he travelled well, apart from the one mistake. His jumping is getting better and better and he was excellent over the last two.”
Tom Mullins ran a pacemaker for Some Present, with Deise Dan taking the field along at a nice tempo for the first mile and a half.
Having dropped off the leaders at halfway, Some Present then rushed up the inside of his stablemate at the head of affairs, with Tony McCoy moving up on Sweeps Hill.
However O’Connell, riding his first winner since turning professional last week, swept around the outside to take up the running approaching the second-last.
Dunguib jumped better than on his previous two starts, with a faultless display capped by a spring-heeled leap at the last.
Earlier, Sizing America answered Andrew Lynch’s every call to come out on top in a thrilling finish to get the rescheduled meeting underway.
The high-class card had to be cancelled on Sunday due to a waterlogged track, but officials moved quickly to move the entire meeting.
Sizing America was sent off at 7-1 for this competitive handicap and although Lynch was hard at work before jumping the final obstacle, Henry de Bromhead’s charge gradually reeled in the mare Frontier Lady to score by a neck.