Eurobot picks up pieces in eventful opener

Eurobot was left to come home an easy winner after an eventful opening beginners chase at Thurles this afternoon. Sams Profile took them along in the two-mile six contest but was headed going to the third last fence where he took a heavy fall.

4/5 favourite Lord Royal had gone to the front before that fence, after tracking the leader throughout, and looked the most likely winner turning for home.

He crashed out at the penultimate fence, however, leaving Eurobot in front.

Noel Meade 's charge, who had been driven along in second before the straight, was left in a clear lead and only had to pop the last to score by 18 lengths from another Gigginstown gelding Choungaya

The 11/2 winner had been third over fences at Punchestown when last seen in December of last year.

"The bottom line is jumping is the name of the game,” said Flanagan.

“I got into a lovely rhythm and I was content enough that I was going ok but obviously Paul (Townend) was going a bit better than me but tipped up.

"He stays really, really well and he loves that ground and it is actually quite dead. The slower the ground the better and the further he goes the better he'll be."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)