Ramillies put in a good round of jumping© Photo Healy Racing
With Navan off today, Paul Townend switched to ride Ramillies in the beginners' chase at Thurles and the decision paid off handsomely.
This grey son of Shantou was sixth in last season's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and made a more than pleasing chasing debut here.
He tracked Indiana Jones throughout this extended three mile assignment and readily swept past him in the home straight to lead.
The six-year-old gelding asserted before the final fence from his stablemate Tenzing who moved into second.
Once the last was negotiated, Townend drove him home by two and a quarter lengths at 6/4. Tenzing, the 5/4 favourite, gave Willie Mullins a one-two in the race after taking closer order after the third last and putting in good late work.
The front two came in clear of the remainder.
Mullins said: "He was always a good work horse at home and in his bumper days but disappointed me over hurdles. I think he needs nicer ground and a fence, and Paul was very pleased.
"I put Paul on Tenzing this morning but he said he wanted to ride Ramillies, so I said fair enough. He was right and Ramillies had always been running in better types of competition than Tenzing but just had to put things together.
"He finally put things together today on nice ground and he isn't a real heavy winter horse. There is plenty of nice ground in the spring, he stays and jumps and Paul was very taken with his jumping. Paul gets on well with him.
"I think he will improve and the trip is no problem to him."
Ramillies holds an entry in a Grade 1 novice chase over three miles at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Paddy Power cur Ramillies from 20/1 to 12/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
