Acapella Bourgeois and Roger Loughran© Photo Healy Racing
Acapella Bourgeois made the Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase his own from early as he raced to a very easy thirty two length success under Roger Loughran at Navan.
The course winner built up a healthy advantage from the third fence and he was in splendid isolation for the rest of the three miler, negotiating his fences at ease.
When they straightened up to the third last Loughran may have given his mount a little breather as the pursuers seemed to make some progress on the head-on shot.
However, it was soon clear that there'd be no change to an outcome that seemed destined to go only one way from some distance out. Road To Respect came through for the runner-up's spot from before the penultimate fence as Haymount took third, eleven lengths behind. Favourite Anibale Fly was five and a half lengths back in fourth.
"That was very good, He jumped as straight as a die today and he's improving all the time," said winning trainer Sandra Hughes.
"The ground is a big key to him. He just goes on really heavy testing ground. His jumping was superb today and he showed today how good he is.
"He's in the RSA and you'd have to say after today we would be travelling but we'll see what the ground is. If it came up very good, which you never know at Cheltenham, he might give it a miss. At the moment if it was nice soft ground we'd have to take our chance.
"He's got loads of options. We'll sit down, get over today and have a think about where we're going to go."
Asked if he could be a potential Gold Cup horse Ms Hughes said: "Possibly. He's very very good. We knew that when he went chasing he'd show how good he was. Whatever he did last year was going to be a bonus.
"He's from a real staying pedigree and his run in the three mile at Punchestown last year was a very very good run. He stays all day."
On Roger Loughran the Osborne Lodge trainer explained: "From the day the horse came into the yard no-one has ever really sat on him except Roger. He gets on so well with him and it's great for him to get the opportunity to ride him.
"It's like poetry in motion looking at the two of them going around. They just know each other so well. He knows him like the back of his hand and he was brilliant on him today.
"It's great for the yard, great for the owners — great for everyone."
B.J. Geraghty, rider of Anibale Fly (FR) trained by A.J.Martin, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made mistakes and struggled from 5 out.
(GC & EM)
