No More Heroes jumps two out ahead of Fine Theatre (centre) and Futuramic © Photo Healy Racing
No More Heroes ran out an impressive winner of the BETDAQ.COM E50 In Free Bets Beginners Chase, providing his connections (Gordon Elliott, Bryan Cooper and Gigginstown House Stud) with a double on the card.
Successful on his third point-to-point start at Dromahane in 2013, the son of Presenting won a Grade 2 over flights at Navan last year before finishing a close third in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
He was a disappointing fifth at Punchestown on his last outing in April and he was sent off the 4/6 favourite (was as short as 1/3 in early shows) today on his racecourse debut over fences.
Having raced mainly in second he improved to lead seven out and went clear after the second last, keeping on well on the run-in to score easily by five lengths. Futuramic ran a fine race to finish second under Keith Donoghue for Andrew Lynch at 40/1 while Fine Theatre was a future length and a quarter back in third under Mikey Fogarty for Paul Nolan at 5/2.
Bryan Cooper, who was recording his sixth winner since Saturday, said afterwards: "I enjoyed that. He's made to be a chaser and never missed a beat. He had a nice blow and there is plenty of improvement.
"Five or six strides out he was spotting the fences and he loved it. He was getting two or three lengths at every fence whether he was right or wrong.
"Over hurdles he was a bit slow and that's what maybe got him beat in Cheltenham.
"He probably had more left than I thought. He showed a good turn of foot and put it to bed easy.
"He stays all day, maybe three miles, but he also has a turn of foot.
"The Drinmore or the 2m6f race back here (Florida Pearl Novice Chase). Something like those might be next."
No More Heroes is now the 8/1 favourite (from 10's) with Paddy Power for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
