18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Progressive A Toi Phil has Drinmore option

Sun 20th Nov 2016, 14:13

A Toi Phil leaps over the final fence in PunchestownA Toi Phil leaps over the final fence in Punchestown
© Photo Healy Racing

A Toi Phil was a comprehensive victor of the Grade Two Florida Pearl Novice Chase in Punchestown under Ruby Walsh.

Gordon Elliott 's charge made it two from two over fences to earn a first show of 14/1 for the RSA Chase from Paddy Power. The same firm cut him from 25/1 to 16/1 for the JLT Novice Chase.

He landed his beginners' chase in Down Royal at the Northern Ireland Festival of Racing earlier this month.

In today's assignment, he came through to pick off Nambour after the second last and readily asserted after the final fence to score by a good seven lengths.

The odds of reward were 3/1. Stablemate Jetstream Jack kept on for second at 6/1. Disko the 13/8 favourite, was beaten 12 lengths into third by the winner.

Gordon Elliott said: "We had a one-two so we’re happy. The horses ran well. You saw as much as I saw.

“When he got the gap going to the second last he quickened through it and was gone.

“He won well. Ruby said he travelled and jumped well. The Drinmore will be the plan now all being well.

“I’d say he just doesn’t want bottomless heavy ground and Ruby said that’s as soft as he’d want it.

“That’s a Grade Two and he won it well so all he can do is improve from it.”

A Toi Phil also won at Grade Two level over hurdles.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson