Majestic Monalee brings up Russell's double

Monalee made an impressive transition to jumping fences with a decisive success in the beginners' chase at Punchestown.

Having scored at grade three level over hurdles, he was sent off the 6/4 favourite to account for nine rivals in this two and a half mile contest.

He soon led under Day Russell and travelled strongly as he popped from fence to fence.

Market rival Invitation Only (2/1) made a bad mistake and fell at the fifth fence when racing in third.

It was Sutton Manor who tracked Monalee throughout but he came under pressure after three out and lost second place to Any Second Now at the penultimate obstacle.

Once Monalee jumped the last though, he drew clear on the run-in to put Any Second Now away by six lengths.

Sutton Manor (6/1) came home three and a half lengths behind the runner-up in third.

This gave Russell a quick double having landed the opener on 1/4 favourite Mitchouka

Trainer Henry de Bromhead said: "I'm delighted and that's what you dream they'd start like.

“Davy gave him a super ride and he jumped great. He was deadly and I'm really happy.

“We bought him after he won his point-to-point so I haven't had to do a whole lot. He's a very good jumper and was always great over hurdles. We always hoped he'd improve over fences and that would be his game, that's what we bought him for.

“He's in the Drinmore but that was probably just to keep his options open. I'd imagine we'll be looking at the three mile at Leopardstown (over Christmas) and see how we go there.

“He's proven over the trip over hurdles and that was our plan originally.

“He was one of the ones you'd be dreaming of during the summer and it's nice to get this out of the way.

“With any of those top horses in their first run over fences you want to see that they do naturally take to it, as much as they just jump.

“You can say that they'll be a better horse over fences but sometimes it doesn't materialise. You couldn't have asked for much more.

On the possibility of targeting the RSA Chase at Cheltenham, he said: “It's a race that I've always been a little bit wary of. I've had the odd runner in it but not a fancied one.

“That's all a long way away and we'll just try and get to Leopardstown at Christmas, that's a massive one for us."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson