Our Duke off the mark in emphatic fasion

Our Duke absolutely routed his rivals in Punchestown's bumper with a relentless galloping performance.

The five-year-old gelding was making his racecourse bow for Jessica and Kate Harrington and went into plenty of notebooks afterwards.

He picked up the lead from front-running Sandycove Island with three and a half furlongs to race and quickly powered clear.

He didn't relent in the home straight and came in 21 lengths to the good at 16/1. De Plotting Shed (4/1) could make no impression in second. The field finished well strung out with All In The Head (25/1) a further 11 lengths back in third.

Jessica Harrington said: "He's a full-brother to the horse that won at Clonmel (Oscar Sam).

"He was really good. I actually didn't think he'd do that. I thought there might be smarter and quicker horses in it than him.

"He stayed galloping the whole way and it was brilliant.

"He's absolutely gorgeous and when he came into the parade ring he grew about six inches. Soft ground suits him."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson