Machine eases to victory on his chasing debut

Sizing Machine put in a great performance on his chasing debut to land the Kieran Kelly Memorial Beginners Chase, under Andrew Lynch for Henry De Bromhead.

The five-year-old son of King’s Theatre was just denied in two valuable handicap hurdles at Fairyhouse and Punchestown earlier this year, but he disappointed on his last outing at Killarney in July.

Stepped up in trip to two and a half miles for the first time, the Ann and Alan Potts owned bay was sent off the 11/10 favourite, having opened this morning at 9/4 with Paddy Power.

Having raced in second in the early stages, he improved to lead at the sixth last, and he lengthened away after the final fence, coming home an easy fourteen length winner.

The consistent Raajih put in another good effort, finishing second at 7/2 under Davy Condon for Gordon Elliott (their third second place finish this evening), while Miranour was a further eleven lengths back in third at 12/1 under Eddie O’Connell for Liam Lennon.

Andrew Lynch said afterwards: "We always thought he'd be a better horse over fences.

"He jumped super and never really came off the bridle. He was in front a bit sooner than I wanted, but I didn’t want to disappoint him.

"On that run you’d like to think he could stay a bit further."

The winner cost €20,000 as a foal, before being bought for €160,000 by Alan Potts at Tattersalls back in June of 2011.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee