PUNCHESTOWN REPORT:Oscars Well made an exciting debut over fences with a convincing victory in the Book New Year's Eve Panoramic Restaurant Beginners Chase at Punchestown yesterday.
Last season’s Irish Champion Hurdle runner-up put in a classy display as he romped home in the two-mile contest.
Robbie Power had the Jessica Harrington-trained seven-year-old handily placed in fourth as Hi Big Man, Darwins Fox and Willowhill Warrior cut out the running.
Jumping into the lead with the minimum of fuss at the third-last, the 1 to 2 favourite was never out of second gear as he scored by 12 lengths from Darwins Fox, with Plan A a never-dangerous third.
Harrington said: “That was a lovely introduction. It’s great to get a win having not won at all last year – when they haven’t won for that long you start to worry a bit.
“I couldn’t believe how good he was jumping and Robbie said either long or short he was great.
“I’d say he’ll go for the Drinmore (Fairyhouse, December 2nd) now and he probably won’t run again until then as he’s best fresh.”
The big match-up between Buckers Bridge (Andrew Lynch) and Sword Of Destiny (Davy Russell) materialised in the Ballymore Christmas Fair and Family Fun November Festival Beginners Chase, with Buckers Bridge prevailing after a dour battle.
One and a half lengths separated the pair after the two-and-a-half mile journey, but it was Sword Of Destiny’s jumping which let him down at the last and that mistake was soon seized upon by Buckers Bridge.
They left Troll D’Oudairies all of 55 lengths behind in third.
Henry De Bromhead trains the former Mark Molloy point-to-point winner for the Ann and Alan Potts Partnership and he said: “They are two good horses and I suppose we got a bit of luck at the last.
“They started racing from a long way out and there is 55 lengths back to the third.
“Andrew said he’s still very green. It’s only his third run on the track and his fourth in all and he took a big blow turning in.
“He’s an exciting horse and that’s a good start for him over fences. I’ll need to think about future plans. Maybe on heavy ground like that he’d be better going over two miles as he has such a high cruising speed.”
Stan James gave the winner a 40 to 1 quote for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and made Sword Of Destiny a 33 to 1 chance for the same race.
It was a great afternoon for Lynch who completed a treble at odds of over 20 to 1 when Clonbanon Lad landed the Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter Maiden Hurdle, also trained by De Bromhead. It followed Lynch’s earlier win on Mr Goodenough, trained by John Robinson, in the Punchestwon Handicap Chase.
CLONMEL PREVIEW:After yesterday's exciting chasing debut by Jessica Harrington's Oscars Well, all eyes will be on Our Girl Salley, who makes her chasing bow in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase at Clonmel today.
Prunella Dobbs’ mare won a Grade Three at Leopardstown over hurdles last Christmas and though she’s not been seen since finishing fifth at the Punchestown Festival, she could have too much for the likes of Noras Fancy and Magical Memoir.
The Willie Mullins-trained Sin Palo can atone for a fall at Ballinrobe in September when he lines up in the feature race on the seven-race card, the Wilderness Chase.
