Heart Wood © Photo Healy Racing
Only three lined up for the featured Michael Hickey Memorial Steeplechase but they were three good ones and, as was strongly suggested by the market, it was Heart Wood who came out on top.
Darragh O'Keeffe 's mount, sent off the 8/13 favourite, tracked Buddy One before heading that one at the second-last and quickly settled matters to come home seven lengths in front of the 15lb-conceding, and notably easy to back, Corbetts Cross
It was a good start to the campaign for last season's Leopardstown Handicap Chase winner who was third in a Grade 1 novice chase at Aintree on his previous start in April.
Winning trainer Henry de Bromhead said: "I'm delighted, he is a lovely horse and he has done brilliant. I'm delighted to get it for Robcour. Darragh was good on him, he jumped well and he picked up well.
"You'd have to hope he has progressed from last season, he is still a very young horse, so hopefully he will keep progressing. We are considering the Drinmore if he is still eligible for it, we just need to confirm that, we think he might be."
Quotes from Donal Murphy
