Grey horse Castle Oliver gets up close home© Photo Healy Racing
After a rough passage, Castle Oliver (5/2) swooped late to take the bumper in Fairyhouse by a neck for Joseph O'Brien and Derek O'Connor.
He got badly squeezed for room between horses approaching the home turn and soon came under a drive in sixth from O'Connor.
He still had plenty to do in the final quarter of a mile but responded to O'Connor's urgings to put a sustained challenge together and get up in the final strides. Chef Afef had to settle for second at 12/1, a short head in front of fellow 12/1 shot Battle Of Midway
Joseph O’Brien said: “He’s a lovely big horse and had a nice run first time out. We thought he’d come a bit from that and it was nice to see him go win his bumper.
“He won’t be spending too long in bumpers. He’s a stayer. They went slow and then they got a rush of blood, and Derek came back at them late.
“I don’t know if he’ll run again and we might have him go novice hurdling next year.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
