Our Duke looks the part over fences

Jessica Harrington has always viewed Our Duke as a chaser in the making, and he certainly looked the part when getting his career over fences off to a successful start in the Mervyn Gray Construction Beginners Chase at Navan.

The Oscar gelding, winner of a Punchestown bumper and Leopardstown maiden hurdle in five previous starts, was well-backed here on track from 7/1 into 4/1.

The six-year-old asserted after two out and Robert Power could afford to steady him before the last and still go on to score by 11 lengths. Edwulf was battling it out for minor honours when unseating Mark Walsh after a mistake at the last, leaving Gwencily Berbas to finish second with favourite Prince Of Scars finding no extra from two out another two and a half lengths further adrift in third.

Harrington said, “It was a lovely performance. He was great, and he looked good last year winning the bumper and hurdle. I don’t know what happened to him in Thurles but he came back and finished third in Fairyhouse.

“It’s great to get his chasing career underway. I thought that was a very very hot race. He made a mistake at the third last, probably his only mistake, and Robert was amazed how quick he came back on the bridle.

“We’ll take it from there. Christmas comes a bit quick and we might wait for Naas. He does go on soft ground.

“The lovely thing is that he has lived up to what we thought he was last year and he is a very big horse. He was fit enough to do himself justice. Funnily enough for a big horse, once you get him fit he’s there.”

Jockey Mark Walsh up on his feet after this incident at @NavanRacecourse... https://t.co/54VxJHiCKQ

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 10, 2016

Mark Walsh was fine after his last fence unseat from Edwulf.

(GC & AM)