Oscars Well and Robbie Power clear the last at Punchestown© Photo Healy Racing
High-class hurdler Oscars Well put down a marker in his new career as a chaser when he scored a commanding victory on his fencing bow at Punchestown.
Sent off the 1-2 favourite for the Book New Years Eve Panoramic Restaurant Beginners Chase, the Jessie Harrington-trained seven-year-old jumped well and was sent up to join Darwins Fox in the lead at the third-last fence by Robbie Power.
He soon asserted and popped over the final two obstacles to coast in 12 lengths clear, suggesting he might eventually be as good over fences as he was in a hurdling career that was played out at the highest level and included two Grade One wins.
The betting suggested there were only two possible winners of the Ballymore Christmas Fair & Family Fun November Festival Beginners Chase and punters were right as Sword Of Destiny and the unbeaten Buckers Bridge pulled well clear.
Odds-on Sword Of Destiny forged ahead going to the last, but got it all wrong and handed the intiative to the Henry de Bromhead-trained Buckers Bridge (5-4), who stayed on in the testing conditions to win by a length and a half and initiate a treble for Andrew Lynch.
The jockey made it two when John Robinson's 9-2 chance Mr Goodenough winner of his last three races, stepped out of hunter chase company to take the Punchestown Annual Membership 2013 Handicap Chase, making relentless progress up the straight to win by a length and three-quarters.
Lynch's third arrived when smart bumper performer Clonbanan Lad (8-11 favourite), having his first run for the De Bromhead yard, led all the way in the Follow Us On Facebook & Twitter Maiden Hurdle and held too many guns for market rival Operating winning by three lengths.
Paul Nolan's Jupitor (11-2) couldn't quite get his head in front in bumpers but showed battling qualities under Michael Doran to get the better of Fergiethelegend by a neck in the 10 Euro Admission To All Non Festival Meetings Maiden Hurdle.
