Limestone Lad's eagerly awaited debut over the larger obstacles attracted a bumper crowd to Cork yesterday and he certainly didn`t disappoint when he made virtually all the running to land the Pierse Building Services Novice Chase.
Sent off at 4 to 9 to add to his 16 victories over hurdles and two bumper wins, the eight-year-old, despite fiddling the final fence, jumped well on his debut for new rider Barry Cash to account for Ceoil Agus Craic and Quintus.
Cash, who replaced the gelding`s regular rider, Shane McGovern, was thrilled. 'He`s the best I`ve ever sat on and he will be even better over bigger fences.'
James Bowe, who trains the prolific money-spinner under permit, echoed those sentiments: 'He`s very good and very clever when he wants to be. He`s not 100 per cent fit yet as it`s a long season ahead.' On future plans, Bowe added: 'If he comes out of the race well he`ll run in the Kevin McManus Novice Chase at Tipperary next Saturday. He`ll come on a lot from that.'
Limerick handler Charles Brynes nominated the Thomas Pink Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham on November 11th for Super Franky after the 7 to 2 shot recorded a bold pillar-to-post success in the featured #25,000 Pierse Group Munster National Handicap Chase.
The Pat Hughes/Philip Carberry alliance started proceedings in style when they combined to record an opening race double via Kimberley and Theseus.
