Edwulf and Robbie Power© Photo Healy Racing
Robbie Power stepped in for the injured Barry Geraghty on Edwulf and the top-weight defied his eleven stone ten burden in style to land the Grade B Woodlands 100 Club Nas Na Riogh Novice Handicap Chase at Naas.
A faller at Navan a week back, here the J P McManus-owned and Joseph O'Brien-trained Kayf Tara gelding travelled well through the two and a half miler.
Power was patient from the back on the eight-year-old, but he moved up to track the leaders five out and he eventually led after two out. Ridden to assert on the run-in, Edwulf kept on strongly to defeat Space Cadet by eight lengths.
Pace-setting favourite Velocity Boy faded to be five and a half lengths back in third.
O'Brien said: "Puppy gave him a great ride. He jumped very well today and I'm delighted with him.
"I always thought he was better than a handicapper but his jumping has let him down all year. Hopefully he can keep things together now.
"He's in the four-miler and the RSA, and there is also the Leinster National back here. We'll see how he comes out of this and make a plan for him.
"He gets three miles, and he has as good a chance as any horse of getting four but you don't know until you run."
On other plans O'Brien explained: "Landofhopeandglory ran well as he hadn't run for two months and it was heavy ground. I was happy with him. More than likely he will go for the Triumph rather than the Fred Winter. He seems okay this morning and hopefully he will be okay during the week.
"West Coast Time is a possible for the bumper at Cheltenham but he wouldn't want the ground too quick. He won well in soft ground in Cork."
For the National Hunt Chase Paddy Power go 6/1 from 14/1 whilst Edwulf is 14/1 from 25/1 for the RSA Chase.
Boylesports are 6/1 (from 14/1) about Edwulf for the four miler.
(AM & EM)
