Gentlemansgame wins for Darragh O'Keeffe© Photo Healy Racing
Gentlemansgame (2/1) made a good start to his chasing career when winning the Ballymaloe Relish Beginners' Chase in Foxrock. I Am Maximus jumped left at times, but closed up on the leader at the last but a swerve to the left in jumping saw him land just behind Gentlemansgame and he lost momentum.
The leader, who was Grade 1 placed over a three-mile trip in the hurdle ranks, kept galloping on the run in of this 2m5f race and went clear of I Am Maximus in the closing stages. Darragh O'Keeffe sent him home by eight lengths from the 10/11/ favourite.
Mouse Morris said: “He fiddled a few which was good when he got in a bit close, and the faster he was going the better he was jumping. He’ll come on plenty from that.
“Three miles is his trip and he’ll have to go into Graded races now. He might come back here for the (Dublin Racing) Festival.
“You only have to look at him and you can’t help loving him. He’s the kind of horse I really like.”
Paddy Power and Betfair go 12/1 (from 33/1) for the Brown Advisory and 10/1 (from 20/1) for the National Hunt Chase.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee