Gala Dancer gave a game front-running performance to win the feature six-runner Captain Christy Novice Chase over three miles at Clonmel for trainer Paul Nolan.

The blinkered gelding, ridden by Davy Russell ,showed no ill-effects from his fall at Listowel last time out. He was headed coming into the straight by Your Busy and Ruby Walsh, but a prodigious leap at the last ensured Your Busy would only pick up second placed prize money as Nolan’s horse fought back well.

The winner gave Davy Russell a double on the card. He was backed down from an opening show of 10/3 to an SP of 5/2 joint favouritism with Action Master who finished fourth.

“He ran wide at Listowel and then his jumping fell apart. We schooled him over hurdles to get his bottle back,” Paul Nolan said.

“I said to Davy it would be great if he could get a lead on him. He only touched one fence and jumped great. He was very good and ran up to his mark today.

“He’ll probably run in another novice chase before the ground goes against him. Hopefully he can run off the bottom of valuable handicaps next season like the Kerry National or Galway Plate.”

Michael Graham