CAPTAIN GUINNESS NOTCHED his second Grade Three success of the season at Naas with a decisive victory in the BetVictor Chase.
Winner of the Poplar Square Chase over the course and distance in early November, Henry de Bromhead’s charge had since finished third in both the Tingle Creek at Sandown and the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown.
Dropping back down in class, Captain Guinness was the 5-4 favourite in the hands of Rachael Blackmore, who settled her mount behind the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Cash Back and Blackbow for much of the two-mile journey.
There was little to choose between the trio approaching the second fence from home, where a mistake from the error-prone Cash Back put paid to his chance.
It was a straight shootout from that point – and with the rail to help, Captain Guinness always appeared to be getting the better of the argument and had almost three lengths in hand at the line.
De Bromhead said: “I was worried about the ground, but it looked like a good opportunity and he stayed at it well. Rachael walked the track, was where she wanted to be and she was spot on, fair play to her.
“We decided we’d give Cheltenham a miss this year and have a go at his and luckily it worked out. I’m delighted to see him win another one.
“Once we switched out of the Champion Chase, today was the day and I’ll speak to Declan (Landy, owner) now. We were toying with the idea of stepping him up to two and a half miles at Aintree and the Webster Cup (at Navan) is an option, but is less than two weeks away.
“Unfortunately he had been on the same course as Energumene as a novice, but he’s only a young horse and I’m sure we’ll head over to Cheltenham next year.”
De Bromhead also reported his Cheltenham Festival team in good shape.
“We galloped a good few on Friday and we were happy with them. They seem in really good form,” he said.
De Bromhead and Blackmore quickly followed up through Gabbys Cross (22-1) in the BetVictor Novice Handicap Chase.
“He was a bit disappointing the last day in Fairyhouse so we took the hood off and it might have gone the other extreme – we might have to put it back on! He really tanked with Rachael on the way to the start, but she settled him,” said the Waterford handler.
“I was complaining about his handicap mark beforehand, so it just shows why I’m not a handicapper.
“Before the race I was trying to get him back on track but since he’s won, I’m thinking about the two-mile-five novice handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival for him. Roger (Brookhouse, owner) always likes coming over there so it might be a nice race for him.”
Flame Bearer continued his progression at Naas when taking the Grade Two BetVictor Novice Hurdle in convincing style.
The Pat Doyle-trained seven-year-old was a maiden winner last time out and stepped up in class as one of a field of five for the contest, starting as the evens favourite under Doyle’s son, Jack.
Victorious by two and half lengths from Oliver McKiernan’s Meet And Greet, the Fame And Glory gelding is now set for another graded-race assignment.
“He was very fresh and unfit the first day he ran this season because we had no ground to gallop him on and was then a little unlucky here. He is now doing what we thought he would do,” Doyle said.
“Jack believes he is a two-mile horse but he didn’t get him pulled up until halfway down the back, so I’d say he is a two-mile-four-furlong horse. But we’ll stick with Jack’s opinion for the moment and he’ll go to Fairyhouse (Grade Two hurdle on April 3).
“The plan was always this race and Fairyhouse and we’ll see about Punchestown then. It is working out so far.
“He is bred to get a mile, being out of a Docksider mare, but when I saw him at the Derby Sale, I couldn’t come home without him – he had the biggest walk I have ever seen in a horse and I love Fame And Glorys. He’ll make a lovely chaser.
“This course has been lucky for me and I’ve won two Grade Threes and one Grade Two here.”
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