Royal Caviar and Paul Townend pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins completed a quick cross the card double (also won the first at Navan), as his Royal Caviar made all to take the opener at Thurles, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.
Successful in a maiden hurdle over the course in November of 2015, the son of Vinnie Roe then finished second on his next three starts, the latest of which was a Grade 2 contest.
Making his racecourse debut over fences today he was sent off the 4/7 favourite with Paul Townend in the saddle.
Having jumped well throughout he stretched clear from the last, and never came off the bridle as he went on to score by five and a half lengths. Keppols Queen finished second under Mark Bolger for Jessica Harrington at 5/2, while Joxer (33/1) was twenty-eight lengths back in third under Robbie Colgan for Bill Harney.
Paul Townend said afterwards: "He was brilliant - his schooling had been good at home and he is a real chaser.
"His jumping was very very good and he killed them off with that and did it easily. They all have extravagant jumps in them but, for a big horse, he was able to sort himself out too. It's usually harder for big horses to do that but he was dynamite."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Stewards fined P.J. Rothwell, trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Rufino in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
