The Black Russian adopted his customary front-running style to make a winning debut over fences in the Follow Ballinrobe On Facebook Beginners Chase.

Andrew Lynch’s mount put in a fine round of jumping, and the One Cool Cat gelding kept on strongly in the straight to add to his three previous hurdle wins. Empresario one of the few to get involved in this seven-runner affair, kept on to finish just over four lengths back in second with The Mooch a soundly beaten third.

Winning trainer Fergus Hanley said, "I've always wanted to run him over fences but lads were telling me to leave him hurdling as he was doing so well.

“He always was a good jumper at home and, while I was going to send him to the Doncaster Horses In Training Sale, I might change my mind now!

"He likes to get his toe in and will go on a bit softer. He might go to Roscommon for a two mile graded chase next."

Both Tulsa Jack and Primroseandblue were far from fluent in their jumping.

(TW &AM)