Champion Novice Chase: Capodanno takes another win for Willie Mullins as Bob Olinger disappoints at Punchestown | Racing news
Hot favorite Bob Olinger was bitterly disappointed when Capodanno claimed the top title in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion’s Novice Race in Punchestown.
Henry de Bromhead’s Bob Olinger was seen as a potential superstar as a novice hurdler last season and while his jump wasn’t perfect with his feet, he won in the first two starts over the fence.
However, while he doubled his Cheltenham Festival attendance in the Beginners’ Race last month, he would have been well beaten if Galopin Des Champs hadn’t come to grieve. at the last fence.
With no Galopin Des Champs to worry about and armed with a tie for the first time, Bob Olinger had a 6-5 chance in the hands of Rachael Blackmore, but struggled a long way from home and was pulled ahead of straight house.
Capodanno trained by Willie Mullins (11-4), who finished fourth in the Pursuit of Brown New Mentors at Cheltenham, moved strong throughout and easily captured the Lifetime Ambition at six-and-a-half under Mark Walsh.
Mullins said: “I just felt that when we left Cheltenham we didn’t do the right thing. Having talked to Mark before, he thought the same as me and he wanted to be positive, which suits me well. “, said Mullins.
“We always thought he stayed, that was the right way to ride him. We kept him and we ran once or twice.
“In the bigger races we weren’t bold enough and today is the day just to be brave and see what happens.
“It worked and hopefully we can have a Gold Cup horse on hand. It gallops and jumps and usually the Gold Cup is on good ground, that will do for us.”