Sumos Novios forges through heavy gound

Sumos Novios (9/2) was another horse to make light of a lengthy lay-off as he delivered in the two mile six handicap chase at Punchestown for handler Liam Burke.

The seven-year-old gelding arrived here off a break of 297 days, since winning in Thurles, but travelled well throughout and saw off his rivals by four and a half lengths.

Robbie Power, who brought up his double on the card, sent him into the front rank after the third fence.

At the fourth last, he held a narrow advantage from Empire Of Dirt The latter felt Bryan Cooper's whip after the third last as Sumos Novios travelled powerfully at the head of affairs with a length lead.

Sumos Novios was driven by Power after the second last and the pair moved on from Empire Of Dirt and Sizing Gold

He wasn't for catching as 11/4 favourite Empire Of Dirt had to be content with second. Sizing Gold (6/1) was three parts of a length back in third.

Liam Burke said: "He's a horse that has had a lot of problems and had the potential to be very good. He'd suspensory trouble after running at Thurles (in February) and at the time I had the good novice handicap at Navan in mind.

"He's entered in the Paddy Power but I don't think he'll get in. There is a race at Fairyhouse on New Years Day but he may wait for the Thyestes and should get into that.

"In fairness to Robbie he'd never sat on him until today and it was a real horseman's ride."

Robbie Power said: "It was very good. Liam was just worried as he's a free-going horse and he was just worried before the race that he hadn't enough done with him. He was spot on today, he jumped from fence to fence. He loves that ground and he has a nice future hopefully.

"I'm not sure Leopardstown (for the Paddy Power Chase) would be soft enough for him. I think maybe more a Thyestes would be bang up his street; three miles round Gowran on heavy ground would be a nice ride.

"It was his first run in a handicap (today) but he has always been a good jumper. Hopefully he will improve for it."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee