The horse that Very Wood eclipsed in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham back in March, Deputy Dan failed at odds of 8/13 on his chasing debut at Fontwell last Wednesday. At a price of 1/2 Very Wood showed his undoubted class to score at the first time of asking over the larger obstacles in the W.B. Gavin & Co. EBF Beginners Chase at Galway.

That doughty stayer The Job Is Right was there with his chance as they approached the business end, as were the sweet-travelling duo of Captain Canada and Shesaportrait

In the end though, Very Wood, a point-to-point graduate, carried too much fire-power in the last furlong as he defeated The Job Is Right, Shesaportrait and Captain Canada by a length and a half, a length and three parts and six and a half lengths.

Winning rider Bryan Cooper reported: “He’s loads of scope and jumped well but would probably be better on a more galloping track. He got the job done, and chasing will be his game."

Meanwhile as the representative of successful trainer Noel Meade, Nina Carberry stated: "That was a nice introduction. I’d imagine Noel will be looking at the good novice races, and maybe something like the Drinmore. He never does a lot in front." (AM & EM)