It was a red letter day for brothers Connor and Daniel King at Punchestown as Oscars Brother continued his climb into the novices to land the Boodles Florida Pearl Novice Chase.
Fresh from doing everything he could to open his account over the fences in Galway last month, the 7-4 favorite was back to the fore, putting the step up to level two in his stride with an assured bounce to beat Henry de Bromhead’s Koktail Divin by three lengths.
Delighted trainer Connor King said: “We always liked him. He did well over hurdles and we always hoped he would be a better chaser.”
“I’ve been eyeing this race for a long time. I remember last year there were only three runners in it and I thought it would be a good race to aim for.”
“I think he jumped better the last day, but he got the job done.”
Looking at future plans, King added: “It is disappointing for us that they have dropped the three-mile novice pursuit at Leopardstown (at Christmas).
“Limerick is two mile five (Faugheen Novices’ Chase) and it will probably be tough ground, so that would suit him, and we could travel too.
“Staying on courses is his thing and there’s plenty to look forward to. I still think there’s a lot left in him and he’s always fresh after his races. I don’t think we’ve got to the bottom of him.”
There was an all-Willie Mullins finish to the Conway Piling Beginners Chase, where class three-winning hurdler Kitzbuhel (8-15 favourite) made the perfect introduction over the bigger hurdles, leaving stablemate Kaid d’Authie by a length and a quarter.
The five-year-old could now meet Oscar’s Brother over the Christmas period. Mullins said: “He needed that. It was a great performance, he jumped economically and Paul (Townend, jockey) was happy to see it improve him.
“We will be looking for a race after Christmas, maybe the one in Limerick.”
Quinta Do Lago (6-5 favourite) confirmed the promise of his easy win in Cork as he settled to win the opening leg of the Total Event Rental 3-YO Maiden Hurdle.
Jessica Harrington’s charge was quoted at 50-1 by Paddy Power for the Triumph Hurdle, with the trainer’s daughter and assistant Kate Harrington confirming Cheltenham would be on the agenda.
She said: “I was a bit concerned that he was missing that bit of experience against horses from the Flat.
“He looked like he was being beaten when he went in, but he put his head down and came through a narrow gap between the horses.
“We’re going to aim for Cheltenham, but we’ll see how he comes out of here first.”
Gordon Elliott’s Santo Sospir (11-8 favourite) playfully landed the Sebden Steel Maiden Hurdle, after which stable representative Lisa O’Neill said: “I think further certainly suits him and he can deal with those ground conditions, so he’ll have a lot of options for the winter. Hopefully he can step up to the next level.”
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