Third time lucky for Duke over fences Gentleman Duke made it third time lucky over fences, as he took the opener at Thurles this afternoon, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase. The Arthur Moore trained five-year-old son of Bachelor Duke, finished third on his debut over fences at Listowel in September, and he then finished second to Passage Vendome in another beginners contest at Tramore. Having opened at 10/3 on-course, the JP McManus owned gelding was backed into 11/4 at the off. Settled in second by David Casey, the winner improved to dispute the lead with the front-running Raise Hell at the second last. The duo battled it out on the run to the final fence, with Gentleman Duke gaining the upper hand on the run-in, going on to score by two and a quarter lengths. Raise Hell, who was sent off the 13/8 favourite, had to settle for second under Davy Russell for Willie Mullins, while Blazing Sonnet was a neck back in third under Andrew Leigh for Willie Austin at 10/1. Arthur Moore said afterwards: "He seems much happier over fences than hurdles, and hopefully he will make a good fun handicapper. "We will keep him to chasing and we won’t do much with him if the ground turns heavy, but you'd never know what sort of winter we are in for." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
