BOB OLINGER AND Captain Guinness returned to winning ways to provide Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore with a Graded race double at Navan.
Lismullen Hurdle winner Bob Olinger was victorious for the first time since the Cheltenham Festival of March 2022, when the beneficiary of the late fall of Galopin Des Champs, and had struggled to hit the heights that once looked likely as a novice hurdler.
Having travelled supremely well for Blackmore when still hard on the bridle on the run to the last between Home By The Lee and Zanahiyr, it briefly looked like he would flatter to deceive once again.
🔥 The fire still burns for Bob Olinger
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 18, 2023
The dual Cheltenham Festival hero records a first victory since March 2022 as he gets the better of a cracking tussle with Zanahiyr in the G2 Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle@HenrydeBromhead | @rachaelblackmor | @NavanRacecourse pic.twitter.com/ze1v17PYsZ
When Blackmore initially asked him to quicken, the response was not immediate and Zanahiyr went on, but eventually Bob Olinger (15-8) did begin to find for pressure and ultimately was a good winner.
He went on to win by a length from the 5-4 favourite, with Home By The Lee, giving 9lb to all, a creditable third in trying to replicate last year’s win.
🚀 Brilliant performance
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 18, 2023
Captain Guinness routs his rivals to land the G2 @BarOneRacing Fortria Chase for the second year in succession, giving @rachaelblackmor & @HenrydeBromhead a quickfire double at @NavanRacecourse pic.twitter.com/top8iuCC4U
Captain Guinness repeated his victory in the Bar One Fortria Chase, again beating last year’s runner-up Riviere D’etel, this time by seven lengths.
Dysart Dynamo was the 4-5 favourite but he found disappointingly little for Paul Townend in the straight and Blackmore always looked to have him covered.
A loss, he was coming to form… and is an exciting player on attack. A lot of people disappointed with him at the start of the season but Munster were playing poorly as a team anyway. He as individual wasn’t going to make Munster a success overnight.
I would of loved to see him remain for another year. Compared to R Scannell he’s far more of a treat and has great running lines and ball in hand skills for off loading and making the pass.
Beir bua Malakai
Hello bundee?
@Gary Galligan: Bundee won’t be going anywhere, sorry to burst your bubble.
@Gary Galligan: they’ve already signed Nankivell
@Gary Galligan: already signed Alex Nankivell. No Bundee after that id say!
@Gary Galligan: why are you saying hello to Bundee??? We have a centre signed
Awful start. But seemed to kick into gear after been dropped.
Still not the player that was on the world cup winning team, but good signing all same. They have been really impressive benetton this year.
@Paddy Waggon: Benetton at home have been very very good, away from home have only beat Zebre and Ospreys. Looks like they are acting like the Top 14 teams, in having a home team and away team. Think for this last stretch they will just play strongest team available. They have a lot more non Italian players than in years past, look to have picked up a number of good Argentinians from Jaguares plus have a lot of good young players coming though.
Even with the new lad coming from NZ, feels a bit light at centre.
Frisch has made a good start and Scannell is a solid backup, but Goggin hasn’t looked up to it in recent season. Gibbons is the one academy centre and only year 1.
Wonder if Munster will go to the market again? Either IQ or NIQ
@Johnny 5: you forgot Oli Morris
@Kingshu: Short term signing as emergency cover for Farrell no? I haven’t seen him in a 23 yet. Hardly staying on
Shocking state of affairs but I reckon Leinster have at least 5 centres ahead of any of what Munster can put out – apart from henshaw and ringrose there’s O’Brien osborne ngatai and Frawley
And while it may seem a slight on Munster I see it more as a massive problem for Irish rugby
@John Lowry: thought another centre, Liam Turner was one of the best players going forward last weekend
@John Lowry: We’ve always had problems in the middle of the park really.
How many would cup winners have played for Irish provinces? Munster have had 3 recently. Perhaps some of Harrison (Ulster) Langford or Williams ??
@Ciaran Kennedy: Mils Muliaina for Connacht too.
@Ciaran Kennedy: Thorn Leinster?
@Ciaran Kennedy: all the 2007 bokke. Botja Munster Ulster, Pienaar Ulster, Muller Ulstrr, CJ at Leinster.
@Ciaran Kennedy: don’t see your point really …, but as you brought up the topic Leinster could possibly have about 12 by the end of the year all going well … and Munster Ulster and Connaught should also reap the awards.
@Ciaran Kennedy: don’t see your point really …, but as you brought up the topic Leinster could possibly have about 12 by the end of the year all going well … and Munster Ulster and Connaught should also reap the awards.
@Cathal Carr: Jesus hadn’t remembered Pienaar was there back in 07.
I think the ‘Bundee to Munster’ issue is still open. There is still a space at Munster as Farrell is also gone. It seems to me the basic question is whether Bundee’s relationship with the Connacht management is resolved. Are they going to play him? If not, there is no point in a centrally contracted player rotting away
Leave out the interprovincial BS it was a personal decision, I wish him and his family the best. Nothing personal to the clubs is my take