BOB OLINGER MADE it two wins in as many starts over fences when running out a cosy winner of the Kildare Novice Chase at Punchestown.
The seven-year-old, a dual Grade One hurdles victor last term, had triumphed on his chasing bow at Gowran in November although his jumping was not faultless on that occasion.
However, he turned in a more assured round of fencing in this Grade Three, with Rachael Blackmore content to maintain a watching brief in the early stages as Lifetime Ambition and Capodanno set the early gallop.
With three fences down the back straight omitted due to the sun, it was a long run to the third-last with Bob Olinger clearly travelling well for Blackmore.
However, she had to start pushing on the 1-2 favourite turning in, but once Bob Olinger found top gear he swiftly put the race to bed, clearing the last in fine style before coming home four and three-quarter lengths ahead of the game Capodanno. Gaillard Du Mesnil plugged on for third, beaten a further 27 lengths.
Bob Olinger is now the evens favourite for the Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham with both Coral and Paddy Power.
De Bromhead was delighted with Bob Olinger’s performance and felt he had progressed from his Gowran victory.
He said: “He was really good and Rachael was really happy with him. He jumped great and it was a class race.
“He’d come on a hell of a lot since Gowran and I think the experience he got there has really stood to him.
“The second is obviously a good horse and the pair of them have pulled clear. Thankfully our man kept going.”
De Bromhead is now looking towards Leopardstown next month for Bob Olinger, if conditions allow.
He added: “The Dublin Racing Festival is the plan subject to ground. There would want to be a good ease in the ground.
“It seems our best option. It’s three weeks and I think that’s the plan at the moment.
“He’s got a lot of class and a great attitude.”
a lot of people thought fergie had lost the plot when he sold hughes, ince and kanchelskis that summer
@kris hetherington yea I thought it was the end of the world that summer . especially with sparky going he was and always will be one of the heroes.fergie knew what he was doing all the same.even the class of 92 were shocked at the time but it gave them the extra bit of confidence that the greatest manager of all time 100% believed in them.oh sparky wha a player they don’t make m like that anymore
Sparky was my hero in them days was so delighted when fergie brought him back and then devastated when he left again. Always went for the spectacular and 9 out of 10 times it came off.
Feel sorry for Moyes obviously a sell to buy policy in place. I suppose he feels he needs a backup forward in case Defoe gets injured so has to sell Van Aanholt to get Ulloa and Gibson.
Van aaronholt to palace is a good signing very attack minded
But he’s a defender and he has one flaw, he can’t defend.
Brady to West Ham
She’s already there