Woodland Opera (Robbie Power, nearside) jumps the last with eventual 2nd, Tombstone (Davy Russell)© Photo Healy Racing
A winner at up to two miles five in the past Woodland Opera returned to top form to score as the outsider of the four contenders for the Grade 2 Ryans Cleaning Craddockstown Novice Chase at Punchestown.
Though it was only a two miler, stamina came to the fore up the straight.
Favourite Tombstone was the first in trouble but to his credit he found plenty for pressure, but not enough to get the better of the Jessica Harrington-trained and Robbie Power-ridden 11/2 chance, Woodland Opera.
Woodland Opera was half a length up on Tombstone at the line. Then there were fifteen lengths and four and a half lengths to Calino D'Airy and Brelade
"It's great as there are a lot of the Coopers (owners) here today,” said Mrs Harrington.
“I probably got his trip right for the winter ground. I don't think he gets any further than two miles on heavy ground.
“He does go on it but I kept running him over two-and-a-half and he doesn't get it. Over the winter he'll stick to any two-mile handicaps or whatever.
“He'll have run out of his novice career now because he wouldn't go two-and-a-half at Fairyhouse.
“We'll probably find something for him over Christmas. It was lovely to be able to get into this race because he's rated 150 or something rather scary like that.
“I'm not sure where we go but we'll find something for him. He'll probably have to go to Naas like his mother (Opera Hat)!
“It's great to get him back to winning ways and I think the trainer probably made a bit of a nonsense by running him over too far on soft ground.
“As he's gotten older he gotten stronger. He jumped well and he battled very well today.”
The Stewards interviewed R.M. Power, rider of Woodland Opera, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race.
Evidence was heard from the rider concerned.
Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that R.M. Power was in breach of R10(3)(e) by hitting his mount in an incorrect area and therefore cautioned him having taken his good previous record into consideration.
(GC & EM)
